There is another circumstance in which my friend excels (20) in his management, which is the manner of rewarding his servants. He has ever been of opinion that giving his cast[39] clothes to be worn by valets has a very ill effect upon little minds, and creates a silly sense of equality between the parties, in persons affected only (25) with outward things. I have heard him often pleasant on this occasion,[40] and describe a young gentleman abusing his man in that coat[41] which a month or two before was the most pleasing distinction he was conscious of in himself. He would turn his discourse still more pleasantly upon the ladies' bounties of this kind; and I have heard him say he knew a fine woman who distributed (82: 5) rewards and punishments in giving becoming or unbecoming dresses to her maids. [39] Cast-off. [40] _I.e_. humorous on this matter. [41] _I.e_. while the man was wearing that coat. But my good friend is above these little instances of good-will, in bestowing only trifles on his servants; a good servant to him is sure of having it in his choice very (10) soon of being no servant at all. As I before observed, he is so good an husband,[42] and knows so thoroughly that the skill of the purse is the cardinal virtue of this life,--I say, he knows so well that frugality is the support of generosity, that he can often spare a large fine[43] when a (15) tenement falls,[44] and give that settlement to a good servant who has a mind to go into the world, or make a stranger pay the fine to that servant, for his more comfortable maintenance, if he stays in his service. [42] Economist. The verb is still used in that sense. [43] A fine, in English law, is a sum of money paid by a tenant at the beginning of his tenancy, usually to reduce his rent. [44] When the right to occupy a house or lands terminates, by expiration of lease or otherwise. The usual term is "falls in." The meaning of the whole passage is that when a tenement--house or lands--is to be rented, Sir Roger often grants it to one of his servants without requiring payment of the customary "fine" on taking possession; or, if the servant choose to remain with Sir Roger, he may have the fine paid by the "stranger" who leases the property.