IT IS HARD TO BE GOOD There is an infernal charm about sin which should have been given to virtue, but unluckily got shifted in very early human days.

And so it was that George Hamilton had troubles of his own in this respect.

When he left Frances Jennings at Sundridge, he was aglow with good resolutions, all of which were to be put into immediate practice, and many of which he carried out in part by strong though spasmodic effort when he returned to court.
His attempts to be decent at first filled his friends with surprise, then disgust, then raillery.

The untoward thing had never been tried at Charles II's Whitehall, and it furnished a deal of talk between routine scandals.

In fact, it was looked upon as a scandal in itself.
This new phase in one of the king's own subdevils soon fell under the notice of his Majesty, who asked George one day if he would like to have an easy benefice in the church where he could meditate on his past and build for the future.
"And pray for Lady Castlemain's unbaptized children, your Majesty ?" asked George, whereupon the king shrugged his shoulders and turned away.