thers by any woman in Christendom, d'ye see, I'd raise such
a hurricane about her ears, that--" Here he was interrupted by Mr.
Hatchway, who thrusting his head towards the door, in the attitude of
one that listens, cried, "Ahey, there's your spouse come to pay us a
visit." Trunnion's features that instant adopted a new disposition; fear
and confusion took possession of his countenance; his voice, from a tone
of vociferation, sank into a whisper of, "Sure, you must be mistaken,
Jack;" and, in great perplexity, he wiped off his sweat which had
started on his forehead at this false alarm. The lieutenant, having thus
punished him for the rodomontade he had uttered, told him, with an arch
sneer, that he was deceived with the sound of the outward door creaking
upon its hinges, which he mistook for Mrs. Trunnion's voice, and desired
him to proceed with his admonitions to Mr. Pickle. It is not to be
denied that this arrogance was a little unseasonable to the commodore,
who was in all respects as effectually subdued to the dominion of his
wife as the person whose submission he then ventured to condemn; with
this difference of disposition--, Trunnion's subjection was like that of
a bear, chequered with fits of surliness and rage; whereas Pickle
bore the yoke like an ox, without repining. No wonder, then, that
this indolence, this sluggishness, this stagnation of temper rendered
Gamaliel incapable of withstanding the arguments and importunity of his
friends, to which he at length surrendered. He acquiesced in the justice
of their observations: and, taking his son by the hand, promised to
favour him for the future with his love and fatherly protection.

But this laudable resolution did not last. Mrs. Pickle, still dubious
of his constancy, and jealous of his communication with the commodore,
never failed to interrogate him every night about the conversation that
happened at the club, and to regulate her exhortations according to the
intelligence she received. He was no sooner, therefore, conveyed to bed
(that academy in which all notable wives communicate their lectures),
when her catechism began; and she in a moment perceived something
reluctant and equivocal in her husband's answers. Aroused at this
discovery, she employed her influence and skill with such success, that
he disclosed every circumstance of what had happened; and after having
sustained a most severe rebuke for his simplicity and indiscretion,
humbled himself so far a