After leaving the Hayes family in the country, he found them again in London: he took up his abode with them, and was attached to the mother and the son.

Do you suppose that rascals have not affections like other people?
hearts, madam--ay, hearts--and family ties which they cherish?
As the Doctor lived on with this charming family he began to regret that he had sunk all his money in annuities, and could not, as he repeatedly vowed he would, leave his savings to his adopted children.
He felt an indescribable pleasure ("suave mari magno," etc.) in watching the storms and tempests of the Hayes menage.

He used to encourage Mrs.
Catherine into anger when, haply, that lady's fits of calm would last too long; he used to warm up the disputes between wife and husband, mother and son, and enjoy them beyond expression: they served him for daily amusement; and he used to laugh until the tears ran down his venerable cheeks at the accounts which young Tom continually brought him of his pranks abroad, among watchmen and constables, at taverns or elsewhere.
When, therefore, as the party were discussing their bacon and cabbage, before which the Reverend Doctor with much gravity said grace, Master Tom entered.

Doctor Wood, who had before been rather gloomy, immediately brightened up, and made a place for Billings between himself and Mrs.
Catherine.
"How do, old cock ?" said that young gentleman familiarly.

"How goes it, mother ?" And so saying, he seized eagerly upon the jug of beer which Mr.
Hayes had drawn, and from which the latter was about to help himself, and poured down his throat exactly one quart.
"Ah!" said Mr.Billings, drawing breath after a draught which he had learned accurately to gauge from the habit of drinking out of pewter measures which held precisely that quantity.--"Ah!" said Mr.Billings, drawing breath, and wiping his mouth with his sleeves, "this is very thin stuff, old Squaretoes; but my coppers have been red-hot since last night, and they wanted a sluicing." "Should you like some ale, dear ?" said Mrs.Hayes, that fond and judicious parent.
"A quart of brandy, Tom ?" said Doctor Wood.