The news, and to his favourite subjects led:
If closely press’d, he sometimes staid to dine, 160
Eat of one dish, and drank one glass of wine;
For James was crafty grown, and felt his way
To favour, step by step, and day by day;
He talk’d of business, till the Uncle prized
The lad’s opinion, whom he once despised,
And, glad to see him thus his faults survive,
“This Boy,” quoth he, “will keep our name alive.
Women are weak, and Patty, though the best