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The lieutenant, having thus punished
him for the rodomontade he had uttered, told him, with an arch sneer,
that he was deceived with the sound of the outward door creaking
upon its hinges, which he mistook for Mrs. Trunnion's voice, and
desired him to proceed with his admonitions to Mr. Pickle. It is
not to be denied that this arrogance was a little unseasonable to
the commodore, who was in all respects as effectually subdued to
the dominion of his wife as the person whose submission he then
ventured to condemn; with this difference of disposition--, Trunnion's
subjection was like that of a bear, chequered with fits of surliness
and rage; whereas Pickle bore the yoke like an ox, without repining.
No wonder, then, that this indolence, this sluggishness, this
stagnation of temper rendered Gamaliel incapable of withstanding
the arguments and importunity of his friends, to which he at length
surrendered. He acquiesced in the justice of their observations:
and, taking his son by the hand, promised to favour him for the
future with his love and fatherly protection.


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