wrinkles -- In her temper, she is proud, stiff, vain, imperious,
prying, malicious, greedy, and uncharitable. In all likelihood,
her natural austerity has been soured by disappointment in love;
for her long celibacy is by no means owing to her dislike of
matrimony: on the contrary, she has left no stone unturned to
avoid the reproachful epithet of old maid.

Before I was born, she had gone such lengths in the way of
flirting with a recruiting officer, that her reputation was a
little singed. She afterwards made advances to the curate of the
parish, who dropped some distant hints about the next
presentation to the living, which was in her brother's gift; but
finding that was already promised to another, he flew off at a
tangent; and Mrs Tabby, in revenge, found means to deprive him of
his cure. Her next lover was lieutenant of a man of war, a
relation of the family, who did not understand the refinements of
the passion, and expressed no aversion to grapple with cousin
Tabby in the way of marriage; but before matters could be
properly adjusted, he went out on a cruise, and was killed in an
engagement with a French frigate. Our aunt, though baffled so
often, did not yet despair. She layed all her snares for Dr Lewis,
who is the fidus Achates of my uncle. She even fell sick upon the
occasion, and prevailed with Matt to interpose in her behalf with
his friend; but the Doctor, being a shy cock, would not be caught
with chaff, and flatly rejected the proposal: so that Mrs Tabitha
was content to exert her patience once more, after having
endeavoured in vain to effect a rupture betwixt the two friends;
and now she thinks proper to be very civil to Lewis, who is
become necessary to her in the way of his profession.