 more embarrassed about his behaviour
than if he had been surrounded at sea by the whole French navy. He had never
pronounced the word Madam since he was born, so that far from entering into
conversation with the ladies, he would not even return the compliment, or give
the least nod of civility when they drank to his health; and I verily believe,
would rather have suffered suffocation, than allowed the simple phrase, your
servant, to proceed from his mouth. He was altogether as inflexible with respect
to the attitudes of his body; for, either through obstinacy or bashfulness, he
sat upright without motion, insomuch that he provoked the mirth of a certain
wag, who addressing himself to the lieutenant, asked whether that was the
commodore himself, or the wooden lion that used to stand at his gate? An image
to which, it must be owned, Mr. Trunnion's person bore no faint resemblance.
    Mr. Hatchway, who was not quite so unpolished as the commodore, and had
certain notions that seemed to approach the ideas of common life, made a less
uncouth appearance; but then he was a wit, and though of a very peculiar genius,
partook largely of that disposition which is common to all wits, who never enjoy
themselves, except when their talents meet with those marks of distinction and
veneration, which (in their own opinion) they deserve.
    These circumstances being premised, it is not to be wondered at, if this
triumvirate made no objections to the proposal, when some of the grave
personages of the company made a motion for adjourning into another apartment,
where they might enjoy their pipes and bottles, while the young folks indulged
themselves in the continuance of their own favourite diversion. Thus rescued, as
it were, from a state of annihilation, the first use the two lads of the castle
made of their existence, was to ply the bridegroom so hard with bumpers, that in
less than an hour he made divers efforts to sing, and soon after was carried to
bed, deprived of all manner of sensation, to the utter disappointment of the
bridemen and maids, who, by this accident, were prevented from throwing the
stocking, and performing certain other ceremonies practised on such occasions.
As for the bride, she bore this misfortune with great good humour, and indeed,
on all occasions, behaved like a discreet woman, perfectly well acquainted with
the nature of her own situation.
 

                                   Chapter V

Mrs. Pickle assumes the Reins of Government in her own Family; her Sister-in-law
undertakes an Enterprize of Great Moment; but is for some time
