He was possessed of a worldly wisdom which kept him from that folly, and taught him to appreciate fully the value of independence.

But he was ever remembering how many shillings there are in a pound, and how many pence in a shilling.

He had a great eye to discount, and looked closely into his bills.

He searched for cheap shops; and some men began to say of him that he had found a cheap establishment for such wines as he did not drink himself! In playing cards and in betting, he was very careful, never playing high, never risking much, but hoping to turn something by the end of the year, and angry with himself if he had not done so.

An unamiable man he was, but one whose heir would probably not quarrel with him--if only he would die soon enough.