pewter pot in the other. It hardly need be added that he was more than
half tipsy. Nevertheless, even in this state, he was well received; and
after he had smothered her with kisses, dandled me on his knee, thrown
into her lap all the pay he had left, and drank three more pots of
porter, they went very peaceably and lovingly to repose.

I regret to say that this amity did not last long. My father's manners,
which perhaps had been softened down by the awe which he had of Lady
Hercules when he first made my mother's acquaintance, were now more
coarse, and so was his language; and the neatness and cleanliness of
person which he was obliged to maintain while performing the duties of a
coxswain to a married captain were not so observable. Besides which,
being no longer under discipline, he was almost every night intoxicated;
and, being so, was more self-willed and regardless of his wife's
injunctions. The consequences were that having received from my father
fifty pounds, my mother first locked that up, and then "unlocked her
jaw." Disputes were now hourly occurring; and it was "now you're vexed,"
and "hey diddle diddle," from morning till night.

My father would repair to the grog-shops to have a dance and carouse
with his messmates, and my mother would not accompany him to such a
vulgar place; consequently he went alone, was out very late, coming home
very drunk, if indeed he came home at all. Moreover, the wives and
companions of the other seamen would insult her when she walked out, for
pretending to be better than they were.

One day when she was walking out arm-in-arm with my father, unluckily
she was met by one of her Woolwich acquaintances. This was the severest
stroke of all, as she had intended to return to Woolwich; but now she
was discovered, and avoided by one party, as well as insulted by the
other. I cannot defend my mother's conduct; nor indeed was she deserving
of pity, as her treatment had been brought about by her own folly and
pride. The effect of all this was, however, that of souring her temper
still more; and the constant vituperation poured out upon my father so
roused his indignation that one evening, when more than usually
intoxicated, the "lady's ladies' maid" received such a severe box on the
ear that the one candle turned to a general illumination. This blow was
never forgotten nor forgiven, although my father was very sorry for it,
and begged her pardon the next day, with promises of amendment