be for praise or censure. Notwithstanding she seems to feel the full force of Prudentia's wellmeaning arguments, still she always turns them off with some ludicrous remark or other; thus"Though my conduct may appear a little inconsistent, now and then, I know it is irreproachable. Am I to glide with the stream, merely because the world affect to disapprove my going against it? Nonsense ;-I'm above the vulgar prejudices of the world, and shall never conform to the ridiculous etiquette and fashion of the times, unless it please my own fancy so to do. Why, you would fain make a prude of me, Prudentia! still you joke and laugh with old and young, and 'trip it on the light fantastic toe' with every beau in company-read novels, and mix in the motley group at a masquerade ;—and no one ever thinks of making any comment. But when I move forward, or attempt to give a zest to conversation, every eye seems fixed, and every ear intent, as it were, to censure and contemn my every word and every action."

"You, Frivola, thoughtless and careless of the world's opinion, without reserve expose your errors; and by your eccentricities betray a silly vanity that must insure the mockery and censure of even indifferent beholders, who will never fail to turn your harmless levity into acts of guilt." Enough," she would good-naturedly reply, "under such mild tuition I shall certainly amend; -continue your admonitions, good and sedate

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lady; you really seem so interested for my reputation, that I can't be angry nor chide your freedom; though I believe in any one but you, such candor would offend my pride and rouse my indignation.

You'll let me read a novel, now and then, to dissipate the gloom, I hope, that such restraint must plunge me into?"

"Indeed, Frivola, if I had any influence on your literary pursuits, more profitable reading should supply their place," replied her friend. "The romantic evils with which they burthen the senses, are, in my opinion, but little calculated to correct your inconsistencies."

"Think ye so my worthy matron?" said she with an expressive glance. "Perhaps I should not indulge my weakness as I do, if my companions were more rationally disposed; but really, the usual topics of the day are so void of interest, that I actually retire to amuse myself with a goodfor-nothing novel, rather than be doomed to listen to the vain egotism of some, or the detracting observations of others. There's Fortuna, raised from culinary employ to look down with scorn upon wit and genius, always talking of her gownds, and her sarvants, and the black beedles that annoy her, till one's tired to death of listening to such gibberish. She had actually the audacity to reprove a young friend of mine the other day, who ran up to her in playful extacy, exclaiming -"Look Fortuna, what a pretty beetle I've got!" Beetle, my dear, is that the way you speak?"

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said she with an air of self-sufficiency-" a black beedle you mean, I suppose!" The child, who had been better taught, looked at mamma, mamma smiled, and taking her little darling by the hand, come," " said she, "we'll go and shew it to your brother;" and when she had led her out of the room, she immediately explained Fortuna's misconception of the word, that the child might not be puzzled by such tuition.

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Ignorance and conceit generally go hand in hand," replied her friend," and it is no uncommon thing at present, for purse-proud gentry to pretend to correct their better informed neighbours; and it too frequently happens that they triumph in their presumption, by abashing their more diffident companions, who they awe into silence by their loud and flippant speeches."

"So it seems, for there's Flirtilla, with her gibes and jeers," continued Frivola, "for ever displaying her wit, and endeavouring to establish her own excellence at the expense of some of the company. In spite of all one's gaiety and efforts to come in for a little share of notice, she, by talking of great men she only knows by name, or using some deceit or other, monopolizes the attention of every beau in company; so that with three times her abilities, one's looked upon as a mere cipher. She is so far clever, to be sure, and a wonderful talent it is, that she pretends to every thing, without knowing much of any thing; and by a happy knack of touching on different

subjects, without dwelling on any, she passes, with half the world, for a prodigy. If she would but allow a little share of merit to others, she might be left to exult in her own qualifications, without drawing upon herself ill-natured observations. But to see her extolled and admired as she rears her lofty head, pretending to every thing, and establishing her excellence on the depredations she commits on her better informed neighbours, is past endurance. For it is only by stratagem, as one may say, and detraction, that she succeeds in making the world believe she is a meteor of such resplendent lustre, as to extinguish every star that comes within her orb.

"But after all, Prudentia, and say what you will, there's something delightfully interesting in the well-dressed accounts we read, of frantic lovers and their strange vicissitudes, in novels.-The incomparable productions of a Scott, the splendid fabrications of a Smith, the wild descriptions of a Radcliffe, and the extravagant delusions of a Gunning, are really so bewitching that I know not how to resist them. They actually deceive my senses while I read, and impose upon my understanding 'till I am bewildered, as 'twere, in a labyrinth of enchantment."

"That's just the mischief of which I complain," replied her friend. "Recollect that the most celebrated novelist of the day, even the great Sir Walter Scott, says the perusal of romances may, without injustice, be compared with the use of

spirits-baneful when habitually and constantly resorted to, but of most blessed power in those moments when the whole head is sore, and the whole heart sick.'

"At the same time I cannot but admit the justness of your observation, with respect to the conversations we are often doomed to listen to, and even to bear a part in, much against our inclination. But the laws of society and good breeding oblige us to submit occasionally to such inconveniences, rather than to appear uncivil to those beings with whom we must necessarily spend a portion of our time. Dress and religion seem to be the favorite topics of the day the one too sublime a subject to be lightly discussed the other too trifling to create any interest in a mind bent upon more rational pursuits. It is not so offensive, however, as the fault you complain of in Flirtilla. To detract from the good qualities of our neighbour is unpardonable; particularly when art and nature have combined, as in the case of your friend, to bestow a thousand beauties both of mind and person to render her prepossessing, and an object of admiration. She ought certainly to be satisfied, and not endeavour to exalt herself by detracting from others. It is beneath her dignity mean and selfish. Endued with graces peculiarly her own, which are multiplied and magnified by vanity; she might allow the humbler pretensions of others to pass, without commenting on little defects that would escape general notice if they were