, at the major's in the evening he gave the story in all its perfection; enlarging a little indeed on one article, which was in saying that the vicar drank like a fish:—
'but,' said he, looking very earnestly at Mrs. Malplaquet, 'few virtues are so practicable as people would feign teach us to believe. The detection of one hypocrite has in it merit enough to atone for fifty sins openly committed. What say you major.'

'Why I say,' replied the major, 'that hypocrisy is a low sin; a kind of rank and file vice; and ought to be drumed out of every regiment of honest fellows. Don't you think so chicken?' said he to his wife.


'Certainly I do,' said she, and as no man alive has less of that meanest of vices than yourself, I may the more freely utter my detestation of it.

'You may be assured the worst of hypocrites is he who covers his deceit with the practice of other vices. All you can do with such a man is not to trust him too far: but how dreadful it is to be always doubting a man you would wish to think well of. You will say he keeps you a stranger to his hypocrisy, and leaves you almost secure he is no such character, by openly avowing his other sins. This very circumstance ought to excite your suspicion of his honesty; for what does he see in one friend more than another, unless perhaps to make him his dupe.'

'This may be all very true, madam,' said Standfast, 'but I must say it appears to me to be a very uncharitable kind of judgment: I hope there are no such persons as you describe.'

'I am sure sir I should be as willing to hope so as you,' said the lady, 'but I cannot give myself that indulgence; for, uncharitable as it may be, I still insist that there is one such character at least in the world.'


'Come, come, I hope not,' said the major, 'if it were only for the honour of the corps of human nature.'

'Well,' said the lady, 'since it has gone so far, I beg that I may have leave to prove what I advance, merely to clear myself from Mr. Standfast's imputation of uncharitableness.

'I will suppose a case: A gentleman shall be in your house, as Mr. Standfast is; receive your protection, countenance,