I have looked at the world, for my part, and come to the conclusion that I know not which is which.
Well, then, on the night when Mrs Hayes, as recorded by us, had been to the Marylebone Gardens, Mr.Wood had found the sincerest enjoyment in plying her husband with drink; so that, when Catherine arrived at home, Mr.Hayes came forward to meet her in a manner which showed he was not only surly, but drunk.

Tom stepped out of the coach first; and Hayes asked him, with an oath, where he had been?
The oath Mr.Billings sternly flung back again (with another in its company), and at the same time refused to give his stepfather any sort of answer to his query.
"The old man is drunk, mother," said he to Mrs.Hayes, as he handed that lady out of the coach (before leaving which she had to withdraw her hand rather violently from the grasp of the Count, who was inside).

Hayes instantly showed the correctness of his surmise by slamming the door courageously in Tom's face, when he attempted to enter the house with his mother.

And when Mrs.Catherine remonstrated, according to her wont, in a very angry and supercilious tone, Mr.Hayes replied with equal haughtiness, and a regular quarrel ensued.
People were accustomed in those days to use much more simple and expressive terms of language than are now thought polite; and it would be dangerous to give, in this present year 1840, the exact words of reproach which passed between Hayes and his wife in 1726.

Mr.Wood sat near, laughing his sides out.