 over the mind of her brother, who was
persuaded to set up a gay equipage, and improve his housekeeping, by an
augmentation in his expence, to the amount of a thousand a year at least: tho'
this alteration in the oeconomy of his houshold, effected no change in his own
disposition, or manner of life; for, soon as the painful ceremony of receiving
and returning visits was performed, he had recourse again to the company of his
sea-friends, with whom he spent the best part of his time. But, if he was
satisfied with his condition, the case was otherwise with Mrs. Grizzle, who
finding her importance in the family greatly diminished, her attractions
neglected by all the male-sex in the neighbourhood, and the withering hand of
time hang threatning over her head, began to feel the horror of eternal
virginity, and in a sort of desperation, resolved at any rate to rescue herself
from that reproachful and uncomfortable situation. Thus determined, she formed a
plan, the execution of which, to a spirit less enterprizing and sufficient than
her's, would have appeared altogether impracticable; this was no other than to
make a conquest of the commodore's heart, which the reader will easily believe
was not very susceptible of tender impressions; but, on the contrary, fortified
with insensibility and prejudice against the charms of the whole sex, and
particularly prepossessed to the prejudice of that class distinguished by the
appellation of old maids, in which Mrs. Grizzle was, by this time, unhappily
ranked. She nevertheless took the field, and having invested this seemingly
impregnable fortress, began to break ground one day, when Trunnion dined at her
brother's, by springing certain ensnaring commendations on the honesty and
sincerity of sea-faring people, paying a particular attention to his place, and
affecting a simper of approbation at every thing he said which by any means she
could construe into a joke, or with modesty be supposed to hear: nay, even when
he left decency on the left hand, (which was often the case) she ventured to
reprimand his freedom of speech with a gracious grin, saying, »Sure you
gentlemen belonging to the sea have such an odd way with you.« But, all this
complacency was so ineffectual, that, far from suspecting the true cause of it,
the commodore, that very evening, at the club, in presence of her brother, with
whom, by this time, he could take any manner of freedom, did not scruple to damn
her for a squinting, block-faced, chattering
