the sequel will prove, his marriage did not turn out very happily.  He used to say to me, “Jack, take my advice, and never marry above your condition as I did; nothing would please me but a lady’s ladies’ maid; I had no right to look up to even a ladies’ maid, and had your mother only been a simple maid, all might have been right.”  But these were after-reflections when it was too late.  I do not wonder at my poor father’s senses being dazzled, for, as he said to me, “You see, Jack, after being used to see nothing but Point women, all so slack in stays and their rigging out of order, to fall aboard of a craft like your mother, so trim and neat, ropes all taut, stays well set up, white hammock-cloths spread every day in the week, and when under way, with a shawl streaming out like a silk ensign, and such a rakish gaff topsail bonnet, with pink pennants; why, it was for all the world as if I was keeping company with a tight little frigate after rolling down channel with a fleet of colliers; but, howsomever, fine feathers don’t make fine birds, and handsome is as handsome does.”

My father’s marriage was, however, precipitated by circumstances.  One afternoon, after he had been accepted, he had taken his quid out of his cheek, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and was in the act of giving and receiving a chaste salute, when Lady Hercules happened to come down into the kitchen—­a most rare occurrence, and wholly unexpected from a lady of her refined and delicate ideas.  She caught my father and mother in the very act; and (as my father expressed it) with an exclamation of horror, “She ’bout ship, and sculled upstairs like winkin’.”  A loud peal of the bell summoned up my mother, leaving my father in a state of no pleasant suspense, for he was calculating how far Sir Hercules could bring in “kissing a lady’s ladies’ maid” under the article of war as “contempt of superiors,” and, if so, how many dozen kisses his back might receive from the cat in return.  While he was absorbed in this pleasing speculation, Lady Hercules was pouring out anathemas against my mother’s want of delicacy and decency, informing her that it was impossible she could submit the decoration of her person to one who has so contaminated herself with a tobacco-chewing seaman—­who was all pigtail within and without; for, as the Scripture says, “Who can touch pitch without being defiled?”

Although my mother had made up her mind that if it was to be a question between a place and a husband, she should decide upon retaining the latter, still she thought it advisable, if it were possible, to conciliate my lady.  She therefore pulled out a cambric handkerchief, and while her ladyship scolded, she covered up her face and wept.  Lady Hercules continued to scold until she was out of breath, and thereby compelled to stop.  My mother then replied, with deep humility and many tears, “that indeed she had been so persuaded (sob) that she at last promised to (sob) marry; but only on one condition—­yes, indeed—­(sob) that her ladyship gave her consent—­positively on no other (sob)—­no, indeed, upon her honor!  Mr. Saunders was—­(sob)—­excellent young man—­(sob), so attached to Sir Hercules (sob), and had such a great respect for her ladyship, that—­(sob—­sob—­sob)—­he had won her heart.”