ailors, I'm afraid,
are--"

"Marines, you should say, in this instance, my dear aunt," replied
Captain Delmar, insinuatingly. "I must confess that neither sailors nor
marines are quite so strict as they ought to be; however, Ben has
married her. Come, my dear aunt, allow me to plead for them, although I
am very much distressed that such an event should take place in your
house. I think," added he, after a pause, "I shall give Mr Keene seven
dozen at the gangway, for his presumption, as soon as I return on
board."

"That won't mend the matter, nephew," replied Miss Delmar. "I'll turn
her out of the house as soon as she can be moved."

"And I'll flog him as soon as I get him on board," rejoined the captain.
"I will not have your feelings shocked, and your mind harassed in this
way, by any impropriety on the part of my followers--most infamous--
shameful--abominable--unpardonable," interjected the captain, walking
the quarter-deck up and down the room.

The Honourable Miss Delmar continued to talk, and the honourable captain
to agree with her in all she said, for an hour at least. When people
are allowed to give vent to their indignation without the smallest
opposition they soon talk it away; such was the case with the Honourable
Miss Delmar. When it was first announced that Bella Keene was safely in
bed with a fine boy, the offended spinster turned away from the
communication with horror; when her own maid ventured to remark that it
was a lovely baby, she was ordered to hold her tongue; she would not see
the suffering mother, and the horrid marine was commanded to stay in the
kitchen, lest she should be contaminated by meeting him on the stairs;
but every day softened down her indignation, and before a fortnight was
over the Honourable Miss Delmar had not only seen but admired the baby;
and at last decided upon paying a visit to the mother, who was now
sufficiently recovered to undergo a lecture of about two hours' length,
in which the honourable spinster commented upon her _in_decency,
_in_discretion, _in_considerateness, _in_correctness, _in_decorum,
_in_continence, and _in_delicacy; pointing out that her conduct was most
inexcusable, iniquitous, and most infamous. The Honourable Miss Delmar
having had such a long innings then gave it up, because she was out of
breath. Bella, who waited patiently to make her response, and who was a
very clever girl, then declared, with many tears, that she was aware
that he