animated by spirit, and strengthened by talents, to which every

person seemed involuntarily to yield. The quickness of his per-

ceptions was strikingly expressed on his countenance, yet that

countenance could submit implicitly to occasion; and, more than

once in this day, the triumph of art over nature might have been

discerned in it. His visage was long, and rather narrow, yet he was

called handsome; and it was, perhaps, the spirit and vigour of his

soul, sparkling through his features, that triumphed for him. Emily

felt admiration, but not the admiration that leads to esteem; for it

was mixed with a degree of fear she knew not exactly wherefore.¶

paid almost incessant attention to Madame Cheron, he found some

opportunities of conversing with Emily, to whom he directed, at

first, the sallies of his wit, but now and then assumed an air of ten-

derness, which she observed, and shrunk from. Though she replied

but little, the gentleness and sweetness of her manners encouraged

him to talk, and she felt relieved when a young lady of the party,

who spoke incessantly, obtruded herself on his notice. This lady,

who possessed all the sprightliness of a Frenchwoman, with all her

coquetry, affected to understand every subject, or rather there was

no affectation in the case; for, never looking beyond the limits of

her own ignorance, she believed she had nothing to learn. She

attracted notice from all; amused some, disgusted others for a

moment, and was then forgotten.¶

though amused by the characters she had seen, was glad when she

could retire to the recollections, which had acquired with her the

character of duties.¶

and Emily, who attended Madame Cheron in all her visits, was

sometimes entertained, but oftener wearied. She was struck by

the apparent talents and knowledge displayed in the various con-

versations she listened to, and it was long before she discovered,

that the talents were for the most part those of imposture, and the

knowledge nothing more than was necessary to assist them. But

what deceived her most, was the air of constant gaiety and good

spirits, displayed by every visitor, and which she supposed to arise

from content as constant, and from benevolence as ready. At

length, from the over-acting of some, less accomplished than the

others, she could perceive, that, though contentment and benevo-

lence are the only sure sources of cheerfulness, the immoderate