Never had the commodore found himself in such a disagreeable dilemma before.

He sat in an agony of suspense, as if he every moment dreaded the dissolution of nature; and the imploring sighs of his future bride added, if possible, to the pangs of his distress.

Impatient of this situation, he rolled his eye around in quest of some relief, and, unable to contain himself, exclaimed, "D--n seize the fellow and his pouch too! I believe he has sheered off, and left me here in the stays." Mrs.Grizzle, who could not help taking some notice of this manifestation of chagrin, lamented her unhappy fate in being so disagreeable to him, that he could not put up with her company for a few moments without repining; and began in very tender terms to reproach him with his inhumanity and indifference.

To this expostulation he replied, "Zounds! what would the woman have?
Let the parson do his office when he wool: here I am ready to be reeved in the matrimonial block, d'ye see, and d-- all nonsensical palaver." So saying, he retreated, leaving his mistress not at all disobliged at his plain dealing.

That same evening the treaty of marriage was brought upon the carpet, and, by means of Mr.
Pickle and the lieutenant, settled to the satisfaction of all parties, without the intervention of lawyers, whom Mr.Trunnion expressly excluded from all share in the business; making that condition the indispensable preliminary of the whole agreement.