Had he gone into the Weights and Measures, a hypothesis which of course presumes a total prostration of the intellects and energy of Mr.Hardlines, he would have worked without a groan from ten till five, and have become as good a model as the best of them.

As it was, he can be hardly said to have worked at all, soon became _facile princeps_ in the list of habitual idlers, and was usually threatened once a quarter with dismissal, even from that abode of idleness, in which the very nature of true work was unknown.
Some tidings of Charley's doings in London, and non-doings at the Internal Navigation, of course found their way to the Shropshire parsonage.

His dissipation was not of a very costly kind; but L90 per annum will hardly suffice to afford an ample allowance of gin-and-water and bird's-eye tobacco, over and above the other wants of a man's life.

Bills arrived there requiring payment; and worse than this, letters also came through Sir Gilbert de Salop from Mr.Oldeschole, the Secretary, saying that young Tudor was disgracing the office, and lowering the high character of the Internal Navigation; and that he must be removed, unless he could be induced to alter his line of life, &c.
Urgent austere letters came from the father, and fond heart-rending appeals from the mother.

Charley's heart was rent.