and the baronet and Lady Roebuck felicitated themselves upon the certainty, as they now conceived it, of that plan which they had formed of making Lord Hazard the reformer of his own village. As preaching however cannot have half the effect of example, they resolved, as the reader has seen, to reserve their grand attack till they should arrive at the place of action, when his lordship should be assailed in such a manner as would deprive him of the means of defending himself, and oblige him—especially as his lady was already gained over—to surrender at discretion.
Lord Hazard very soon got perfectly restored to health, and as there were no reasons to believe that his suspicions concerning his lady had any foundation, he by degrees regained his usual ease and tranquility.
As to Charles, he received a quire of letters from Miss Figgins, full of sythes and wows, and flamming arts; but, convinced that under the guidance of

Standfast, all he incurred was a trifling expence, he rather felt proud of the business, and was not a little pleased that, at an age under eighteen, he had given such notable proofs of his manhood. He felt however very gratefully towards both his parents, who he was convinced knew of his irregularity, and had the kindness not to upbraid him with it; and, as this imaginary conduct of theirs induced him to treat them with the most dutiful and minute attention, so it endeared him to their notice and regard ten times stronger than ever. Sir Sidney was not an idle spectator of this. He was charmed with Charles, and really began to meditate seriously that alliance which it may be recollected he mentioned formerly in jest.
These projects, which were intended to blossom in the spring, and produce fruit in the summer, laid at present dormant in their minds; we will therefore pass over the hurry of the winter, and bring them to the sign of the John of Gaunt's Head, an inn in their way to Warwickshire.
The landlord of this house, who was a great favourite of Sir Sidney, prided himself on having as distinct and ample a genealogy as any lord; nay he looked upon himself as superior to many who boast that title: for, said he,
'What are lords, the creatures

of yesterday, to those in my family of three hundred years standing?' adding, 'alack a day! human creatures are buckets in a well, one up, and tother down.'

This landlord was not a little proud of having been a substantial yeoman of Kent. He had been indeed a considerable farmer, but having a