t who has only
made a mistake. But when I sees a man butter his bread carefully--knife
steady--butter thick, and hungry fellows looking on and licking
chops--mothers stopping their brats--'See, child--respectable man--how
thick his bread's buttered!--pull off your hat to him:'--When I sees
that, my heart warms: there's the true man of the world--augh!"

"Well, Bunting," said Walter, laughing, "though you are thus lenient to
those unfortunate gentlemen whom others call rogues, and thus laudatory
of gentlemen who are at best discreetly selfish, I suppose you admit the
possibility of virtue, and your heart warms as much when you see a man
of worth as when you see a man of the world?"

"Why, you knows, your honour," answered the Corporal, "so far as
vartue's concerned, there's a deal in constitution; but as for knowledge
of the world, one gets it oneself!"

"I don't wonder, Bunting--as your opinion of women is much the same as
your opinion of men--that you are still unmarried."

"Augh! but your honour mistakes!--I am no mice-and-trope. Men are
neither one thing nor t'other--neither good nor bad. A prudent
parson has nothing to fear from 'em--nor a foolish one any thing to
gain--baugh! As to the women creturs, your honour, as I said, vartue's
a deal in the constitution. Would not ask what a lassie's mind be--nor
what her eddycation;--but see what her habits be, that's all--habits and
constitution all one--play into one another's hands."

"And what sort of signs, Bunting, would you mostly esteem in a lady?"

"First place, Sir--woman I'd marry, must not mope when alone!--must be
able to 'muse herself; must be easily 'mused. That's a great sign, Sir,
of an innocent mind, to be tickled with straws. Besides, employments
keeps 'em out of harm's way. Second place, should obsarve, if she was
very fond of places, your honour--sorry to move--that's a sure sign she
won't tire easily; but that if she like you now from fancy, she'll
like you by and by from custom. Thirdly, your honour, she should not be
avarse to dress--a leaning that way shows she has a desire to please:
people who don't care about pleasing, always sullen. Fourthly, she must
bear to be crossed--I'd be quite sure that she might be contradicted,
without mumping or storming;--'cause then, you knows, your honour, if
she wanted any thing expensive--need not give it--augh! Fifthly, must
not be over religious, your honour; they pyehouse she-creturs always
thinks themsels