s. Finally,
such was her modesty and self-denial that she industriously informed
those whom it might concern, that she was no less than three years older
than the bride; though had she added ten to the reckoning, she would
have committed no mistake in point of computation.

To contribute as much as lay in her power to the satisfaction of
all present, she in the afternoon regaled them with a tune on the
harpsichord, accompanied with her voice, which, though not the most
melodious in the world, I dare say, would have been equally at their
service could she have vied with Philomel in song; and as the last
effort of her complaisance, when dancing was proposed, she was prevailed
on, at the request of her new sister, to open the ball in person.

In a word, Mrs. Grizzle was the principal figure in this festival,
and almost eclipsed the bride; who, far from seeming to dispute the
pre-eminence, very wisely allowed her to make the best of her talents;
contenting herself with the lot to which fortune had already called
her and which she imagined would not be the less desirable if her
sister-in-law were detached from the family.

I believe I need scarce advertise the reader that, during this whole
entertainment, the commodore and his lieutenant were quite out of their
element; and this, indeed, was the case with the bridegroom himself,
who being utterly unacquainted with any sort of polite commerce, found
himself under a very disagreeable restraint during the whole scene.

Trunnion, who had scarce ever been on shore till he was paid off, and
never once in his whole life in the company of any females above the
rank of those who herd on the Point at Portsmouth, was 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 note 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