Thisisnotanoverchargedpicture;onthecontrary,itisaverypossiblecase,andsomethingsimilarmusthavefallenundereveryattentiveeye。
Ihave,however,takenitforgranted,thatshewaswelldisposed,thoughexperienceshows,thattheblindmayaseasilybeledintoaditchasalongthebeatenroad。Butsupposing,noveryimprobableconjecture,thatabeingonlytaughttopleasemuststillfindherhappinessinpleasing;whatanexampleoffolly,nottosayvice,willshebetoherinnocentdaughters！Themotherwillbelostinthecoquette,and,insteadofmakingfriendsofherdaughters,viewthemwitheyesaskance,fortheyarerivals——rivalsmorecruelthananyother,becausetheyinviteacomparison,anddriveherfromthethroneofbeauty,whohasneverthoughtofaseatonthebenchofreason。
Itdoesnotrequirealivelypencil,orthediscriminatingoutlineofacaricature,tosketchthedomesticmiseriesandpettyviceswhichsuchamistressofafamilydiffuses。Stillsheonlyactsasawomanoughttoact,broughtupaccordingtoRousseau\'ssystem。
Shecanneverbereproachedforbeingmasculine,orturningoutofhersphere;nay,shemayobserveanotherofhisgrandrules,and,cautiouslypreservingherreputationfreefromspot,bereckonedagoodkindofwoman。Yetinwhatrespectcanshebetermedgood？
Sheabstains,itistrue,withoutanygreatstruggle,fromcommittinggrosscrimes;buthowdoesshefulfilherduties？