George Vavasor had many faults, but idleness--absolute idleness--was not one of them.

He would occasionally postpone his work to pleasure.

He would be at Newmarket when he should have been at Whitehall.

But it was not usual with him to be in bed when he should be at his desk, and when he was at his desk he did not whittle his ruler, or pick his teeth, or clip his nails.

Upon the whole his friends were pleased with the first five years of his life in London--in spite of his having been found to be in debt on more than one occasion.