This disgrace was attended by a fit of peevish devotion that lasted
three or four weeks; during which period she had the additional
chagrin of seeing the young lady gain an absolute ascendency over
the mind of her brother, who was persuaded to set up a gay equipage,
and improve his housekeeping, by an augmentation in his expense,
to the amount of a thousand a year at least: though his alteration
in the economy of his household effected no change in his own
disposition, or manner of life; for as soon as the painful ceremony
of receiving and returning visits was performed, he had recourse
to the company of his sea friends, with whom he spent the best part
of his time. But if he was satisfied with his condition, the case
was otherwise with Mrs. Grizzle, who, finding her importance in
the family greatly diminished, her attractions neglected by all
the male sex in the neighbourhood, and the withering hand of time
hang threatening over her head, began to feel the horror of eternal
virginity, and, in a sort of desperation, resolved at any rate to
rescue herself from that reproachful and uncomfortable situation.

Thus determined, she formed a plan, the execution of which to
a spirit less enterprising and sufficient than hers, would have
appeared altogether impracticable: this was no other than to make
a conquest of the commodore's heart, which the reader will easily
believe was not very susceptible of tender impressions; but, on
the contrary, fortified with insensibility and prejudice against
the charms of the whole sex, and particularly prepossessed to the
prejudice of that class distinguished by the appellation of old
maids, in which Mrs. Grizzle was by this time unhappily ranked.
She nevertheless took the field, and having invested this seemingly
impregnable fortress, began to break ground one day, when Trunnion
dined at her brother's, by springing certain ensnaring commendations