*'  It  consoles  me,  however,  to  reflect,  that  I  never
purchased  a  handsome  new  article  of  dress,  either  for
myself  or  my  daughters,  without  labouring  to  repress
the  love  of  finery,  by  telling  them  how  little  a
woman's  worth  depends  on  dress,  and  that  a  rich
habit  is  only  chosen  because  thereby  alone  can  rank
be  shown.  At  the  same  time  I  must  confess,  that
all  my  daughters  are  vain :  however  many  sermons
I  make  to  them  during  my  toilet,  I  am  not  listened
to  but  only  looked  at.  How  often  do  I  turn  round
with  reproaches  when  my  really  beautiful  Maxi-
miliana  stands  behind  me  peeping  into  the  glass,  and
say,  '  There,  again,  a  pretty,  rosy,  blue-eyed  mask  is
looking  at  herself,  and  can  never  be  tired  of  peeping
and  staring.'

**  I  farther  confess,  wjorthy  sir,  that  I  was  cer-
tainly infinitely  more  displeased  with  Peter  when  he
lately  threw  Veritas  (really  a  most  exquisite  ideal
figure  from  Bertuch's  repository  of  arts)  out  of  the
window,  than  if  he  had  told  ten  lies ;  on  the  other
hand,  I  hope  I  remain  perfectly  tranquil  when  my
husband  sometimes  makes  such  an  uproar  about  some
little  fibs  or  other  the  children  may  have  been  tell-
ing; or  about  their  frequently  quite  justifiable
scoldings  of  the  servants :  then,  says  he,  reflecting  on

K    6


204  women's  adaptation

my  anger,  *  The  Bomans  (Jid  wisely  when  they  wrote

the  initial  letter  of  the  word  signifying  man  inverted

to  mean  woman.'

"  If  God  will  only  forgive  me  the  sins  wherein  I

meant  well»  I  shall  be  satisfied  to  be  punished  for  the

rest.     I   certainly  have  sinned  much»  and  deserved

temporal  punishments,   and  bad  children.      I  will^

however,  from  this  time  forth  amend  my  educational

life,  and  become  better  and  better ;  and  I  entreat  you^

reverend,  dear  sir,  to  foi^ve  me  my  sins  in  God's

stead."     In   which   case  I   should  certainly  lay  my

hand    on    Jacquelina's  round   white   shoulder,  and

readily  absolve  her  past,  though  truly  not  her  future,

sins.
