John Gay reflects that in matters of friendship, quality is preferable to quantity.

When she was ten, Catherine Morland showed none of the qualities needed to impress the ladies who read romantic fiction.

Sir Edward Leithen finds himself revising his opinion of the ‘detestable’ Koré Arabin.

Hours after running away to sea, Robinson Crusoe was sorry he ever left home.

Silas Marner, the weaver, plans to take a comforting look at his savings while he eats his dinner.

Pip receives a visitor from among the criminal classes, but his condescending attempt to play the gentleman rebounds spectacularly.