they could not for ever remain under
the influence of this sweet delusion, which at last faded away, and was
succeeded by a paroxysm of shame and confusion, that kept the husband
within-doors for the space of a whole fortnight, and confined his lady
to her bed for a series of weeks, during which she suffered all the
anguish of the most intense mortification; yet even this was subdued by
the lenient hand of time.

The first respite from her chagrin was employed in the strict discharge
of what are called the duties of religion, which she performed with
the most rancorous severity, setting on foot a persecution in her own
family, that made the house too hot for all the menial servants, even
ruffled the almost invincible indifference of Tom Pipes, harassed the
commodore himself out of all patience, and spared no individual but
Lieutenant Hatchway, whom she never ventured to disoblige.

CHAPTER XI.

Mrs. Trunnion erects a Tyranny in the Garrison, while her Husband
conceives an affection for his Nephew Perry, who manifests a peculiarity
of disposition even in his tender years.

Having exercised herself three months in such pious amusements, she
appeared again in the world; but her misfortune had made such an
impression on her mind, that she could not bear the sight of a child,
and trembled whenever conversation happened to turn upon a christening.
Her temper, which was naturally none of the sweetest, seemed to have
imbibed a double proportion of souring from her disappointment; of
consequence, her company was not much coveted, and she found very few
people disposed to treat her with those marks of consideration which she
looked upon as her due. This neglect detached her from the society of an
unmannerly world; she concentrated the energy of all her talents in
the government of her own house, which groaned accordingly under her
arbitrary sway; and in the brandy-bottle found ample consolation for all
the affliction she had undergone.

As for the commodore, he in a little time weathered his disgrace, after
having sustained many severe jokes from the lieutenant, and now his
chief aim being to be absent from his own house as much as possible, he
frequented the public-house more than ever, more assiduously cultivated
the friendship of his brother-in-law, Mr. Pickle, and in the course of
their intimacy conceived an affection for his nephew Perry, which did
not end but with his life. Indeed it must be owned that Trunn