had ever attained.

This presumption was like a thunderbolt to Mrs. Grizzle, who began to
perceive that she had not succeeded quite so well as she imagined, in
selecting for her brother a gentle and obedient yoke-fellow, who would
always treat her with that profound respect which she thought due to her
superior genius, and be entirely regulated by her advice and direction:
however, she still continued to manage the reins of government in the
house, reprehending the servants as usual; an office she performed with
great capacity, and in which she seemed to take singular delight, until
Mrs. Pickle, on pretence of consulting her ease, told her one day
she would take that trouble on herself, and for the future assume the
management of her own family. Nothing could be more mortifying to Mrs.
Grizzle than such a declaration; to which, after a considerable pause,
and strange distortion of look, she replied: "I shall never refuse
or repine at any trouble that may conduce to my brother's
advantage."--"Dear madam," answered the sister, "I am infinitely obliged
for your kind concern for Mr. Pickle's interest, which I consider as my
own, but I cannot bear to see you a sufferer by your friendship; and,
therefore, insist on exempting you from the fatigue you have borne so
long."

In vain did the other protest that she took pleasure in the task:
Mrs. Pickle ascribed the assurance to her excess of complaisance; and
expressed such tenderness of zeal for her dear sister's health and
tranquility, that the reluctant maiden found herself obliged to resign
her authority, without enjoying the least pretext for complaining of her
being deposed.

This disgrace was attended by a fit of peevish devotion that lasted
three or four weeks; during which period she had the additional chagrin
of seeing the young lady gain an absolute ascendency over the mind of
her brother, who was persuaded to set up a gay equipage, and improve
his housekeeping, by an augmentation in his expense, to the amount of
a thousand a year at least: though his alteration in the economy of his
household effected no change in his own disposition, or manner of life;
for as soon as the painful ceremony of receiving and returning visits
was performed, he had recourse 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