He was afraid of his wife, and he was afraid of Mag.

So he tried to compromise the matter by promising the one that he surely would see to it, and by asking the other if she were not ashamed.

But old Polly didn't let the matter pass so easily.
She was greatly shocked at having "such shameful carryin's on in a decent man's house." "'Clare for't," said she, "I'll give marster a piece of Polly Pepper's mind the fust time I get a lick at him." In the course of a few days Mr.Hamilton had occasion to go for something into Aunt Polly's dominions.

The old lady was ready for him.
"Mr.Hampleton," said she, "I've been waitin' to see you this long spell." "To see me, Polly ?" said he; "what do you want ?" "What I wants is this," answered Polly, dropping into a chair.

"I want to know what this house is a comin' to, with such bedivilment in it as there's been since madam came here with that little black-headed, ugly-favored, ill-begotten, Satan-possessed, shoulder-unj'inted young one of her'n.