But that 's his way.

He do hate us women, Mrs.Harrington.I have heard he was crossed.
Some say it was the lady of Beckley Court, who was a Beauty, when he was only a poor cobbler's son.' Mrs.Mel breathed nothing of her relationship to Mr.Tom, but continued from time to time to express solicitude about Dandy.

They heard the door open, and old Tom laughing in a capital good temper, and then Dandy came down, evidently full of ship's rum.
'He's pumped me!' said Dandy, nodding heavily at his mistress.
Mrs.Mel took him up to his bed-room, and locked the door.

On her way back she passed old Tom's chamber, and his chuckles were audible to her.
'They finished the rum,' said Mrs.Hawkshaw.
'I shall rate him for that to-morrow,' said Mrs.Mel.

'Giving that poor beast liquor!' 'Rate Mr.Tom! Oh! Mrs.Harrington! Why, he'll snap your head off for a word.' Mrs.Mel replied that her head would require a great deal of snapping to come off.
During this conversation they had both heard a singular intermittent noise above.