refused its office), she observed that the boy was a pert jackanapes,
and deserved to be severely chastised for treating his betters
with such disrespect. Her husband undertook his godson's defence,
representing with great warmth that he knew Keypstick to be a
good-for-nothing pimping old rascal, and that Perry showed a great
deal of spirit and good sense in desiring to be taken from under
his command; he therefore declared that the boy should not live a
week longer with such a shambling son of a b--, and sanctioned this
declaration with abundance of oaths.

Mrs. Trunnion, composing her countenance into a look of religions
demureness, rebuked him for his profane way of talking; and asked,
in a magisterial tone, if he intended never to lay aside that brutal
behaviour. Irritated at this reproach, he answered, in terms of
indignation, that he knew how to behave himself as well as e'er a
woman that wore a head, bade her mind her affairs, and with another
repetition of oaths gave her to understand that he would be master
in his own house.

The insinuation operated upon her spirits like friction upon a glass
globe: her face gleamed with resentment, and every pore seemed to
emit particles of flame. She replied with incredible fluency of
the bitterest expressions: he retorted equal rage in broken hints
and incoherent imprecations: she rejoined with redoubled fury; and
in conclusion he was fain to betake himself to flight, ejaculating
curses against her; and muttering something concerning the
brandy-bottle, which, however, he took care should never reach her
ears.

From his own house he went directly to visit Mrs. Pickle, to whom