marriage, an avowal of every thing under Skinks's hand—which he readily gave upon reading Tadpole's letter—and a few other necessary matters.
Thus, having made my hero a lord, and given him a noble estate, I shall proceed to see whether he stands a chance of ever possessing that content without which, in the opinion of many, grandeur and riches are only a substitute for happiness.


As I flatter myself the reader will give me credit for a complete knowledge of the power and effect of contrast, it will not be thought impolitic in me to bring forward our old friend Standfast, in opposition to Mr. Balance. But, exclusive of this artificial way of introducing him, I have now a very natural one; for, as this history is drawing apace towards its conclusion, it certainly could not have been complete had I neglected to record, in the fullest manner, what became of a character who had filled in it so distinguished a situation.
Mr. Standfast and his lovely partner, since their mortifying disappointment on Zekiel's accession to his fortune, had figured away with various success. At one time they were rolling in splendour, at another frightened at bailiffs, till, having been concerned

in pharaoh banks, E O tables, lottery offices, and every species of gambling, either brilliant or contemptible, according as their circumstances varied, they were at length reduced to the most mortifying poverty.
Just at that time the change of the ministry, as I have already recorded, placed Gloss—who, be it known, had never turned tall on his old friends—in a responsible situation under government. They now resolved that Mr. Standfast should become a contractor, by which means they very soon re-established themselves in tolerable opulence; and here a very striking reflection presents itself, that just as the pupil, Charles, was compelled, by the loss of his fortune, to quit the worthy employment of dispensing benefits, and relieving the necessities of the poor and oppressed, the tutor, Standfast, should make a fortune by administering to folly and wickedness, and oppressing and grinding the unfortunate and necessitous.
In this situation had they for some time continued, when Charles's sudden advancement to a coronet gave them to fear that something was
"rotten in the state of Denmark."
What however they could not devise. Sir Sidney had certainly

taken careful measures to appear perfectly indifferent as to what concerned Charles, but yet it was a moot point with Gloss whether he was a friend or an enemy; for, as Annette was carefully kept from him, and Emma, in spight of