his penetralia, leaving the baffled devotee in the humble posture
she had so unsuccessfully chosen to melt his obdurate heart.

Mortifying as this repulse must have been to a lady of her stately
disposition, she did not relinquish her aim, but endeavoured to
interest the commodore's counsellors and adherents in her cause.
With this view she solicited the interest of Mr. Hatchway, who,
being highly pleased with a circumstance so productive of mirth
and diversion, readily entered into her measures, and promised to
employ his whole influence for her satisfaction; and as for the
boatswain's mate, he was rendered propitious by the present of
a guinea, which she slipped into his hand. In short, Mrs. Grizzle
was continually engaged in this negotiation for the space of ten
days, during which, the commodore was so incessantly pestered with
her remonstrances, and the admonitions of his associates, that he
swore his people had a design upon his life, which becoming a burden
to him, he at last complied, and was conducted to the scene like
a victim to the altar, or rather like a reluctant bear, when he is
led to the stake amidst the shouts and cries of butchers and their
dogs. After all, this victory was not quite so decisive as the
conquerors imagined; for the patient being set, and the performer
prepared with a pair of pincers, a small difficulty occurred:
she could not for some time discern one black hair on the whole
superficies of Mr. Trunnion's face, when Mrs. Grizzle, very much
alarmed and disconcerted, had recourse to a magnifying-glass that
stood upon her toilet; and, after a most accurate examination,
discovered a fibre of a dusky hue, to which the instrument being
applied, Mrs. Pickle pulled it up by the roots, to the no small
discomposure of the owner, who, feeling the smart much more severe
than he had expected, started up, and swore he would not part with