 suppress her natural Feelings and Inclinations, and to bridle the Impulses of an affectionate and humble Heart. She is taught to prize what she dislikes, and to praise what she disapproves; to affect Coldness and Distance to Inferiors whom she regarded, and to proportion her Appearance of Inclination, and Respect, to the Station of the Party.
As I have been Ear-witness to several of these Quality Lectures, I might give you many familiar Instances of their Nature and Tendency. Fye
Harriet,
says my Lady, what does the Girl blush at? You are handsome and well-shaped, my Dear, and have nothing to be ashamed of, that I know. No one blushes now a Days, except silly Country Wenches who are ignorant of the World. But, if you have any naughty Thoughts that make you blush, why, keep 'em to yourself Child, and we shall never be the wiser. But, don't let your Face be a Town-Crier,
Harriet,
to let every Body know what you have in your Mind. To be ashamed, my Girl, is the greatest of all Shames.
Again, my Dear, I warn you, that you must not be so fond of the Miss
Collesses,
who used to visit you in the Nursery. For, though they are good sort of Girls, their Parents are People in but middling Life, and we never admit 'em when there's Company in the House. And then, there's the Miss
Sanclairs,
how low you curtsied to 'em Yesterday: and what a Rout you made about welcoming and entertaining them; but, let me have no more of that, for though they are rich, they are Cits, and People of Business; and a Nod of your Head, or Inclination toward a Curtsy, with some Yeses and Noes when they ask you a Question, will be Matter enough of Salute and Discourse from you to them.
You say that your Stays are too low before, and that they pain you about the Waste; but I know it is impossible; for a young Lady must never dislike or be pained, by any Thing that shews the Fineness of her Skin or Shape to Advantage.
I must further advise you,
Harriet,
not to heap such Mountains of Sugar, nor to pour such a Deluge of Cream into your Tea; People will certainly take you for the Daughter of a Dairy-Maid. There is young
Jenny Quirp,
who is a Lady, by Birth, and she has brought herself to the Perfection of never suffering the Tincture of her Tea
