ofthevoice.Wherethetemperamentisserenethoughtheintellectbesluggish,anunconquerabledullnessopposeseveryefforttoinstruct.Wherethereiscunningbutnotenergy,dissimulation,falsehood,athousandschemesandtricksareputinplaytoevadethenecessityofapplicationinshort,tothetutor,femaleyouth,femalecharmsareliketapestryhangings,ofwhichthewrongsideiscontinuallyturnedtowardshimandevenwhenheseesthesmooth,neatexternalsurfacehesowellknowswhatknots,longstitches,andjaggedendsarebehindthathehasscarceatemptationtoadmiretoofondlytheseemlyformsandbrightcoloursexposedtogeneralview.
Ourlikingsareregulatedbyourcircumstances.Theartistprefersahillycountrybecauseitispicturesquetheengineeraflatonebecauseitisconvenientthemanofpleasurelikeswhathecalls“afinewoman”—shesuitshimthefashionableyounggentlemanadmiresthefashionableyounglady—sheisofhiskindthetoil-worn,fagged,probablyirritabletutor,blindalmosttobeauty,insensibletoairsandgraces,glorieschieflyincertainmentalqualities:application,loveofknowledge,naturalcapacity,docility,truthfulness,gratefulness,arethecharmsthatattracthisnoticeandwinhisregard.Theseheseeks,butseldommeetsthese,ifbychancehefinds,hewouldfainretainforever,andwhenseparationdepriveshimofthemhefeelsasifsomeruthlesshandhadsnatchedfromhimhisonlyewe-lamb.Suchbeingthecase,andthecaseitis,myreaderswillagreewithmethattherewasnothingeitherverymeritoriousorverymarvellousintheintegrityandmoderationofmyconductatMdlle.Reuter’spensionnatdedemoiselles.
Myfirstbusinessthisafternoonconsistedinreadingthelistofplacesforthemonth,determinedbytherelativecorrectnessofthecompositionsgiventheprecedingday.Thelistwasheaded,asusual,bythenameofSylvie,thatplain,quietlittlegirlIhavedescribedbeforeasbeingatoncethebestandugliestpupilintheestablishmentthesecondplacehadfallentothelotoface