 Sepulchre.«
 
She repeated these Lines with so strong an Emphasis, that she almost frightned
Amelia out of her Wits, and not a little staggered Booth, who was himself no
contemptible Scholar. - He expressed great Admiration of the Lady's Learning;
upon which she said it was all the Fortune given her by her Father, and all the
Dower left her by her Husband; »and sometimes,« said she, »I am inclined to
think I enjoy more Pleasure from it, than if they had bestowed on me what the
World would in general call more valuable.« She then took Occasion from the
Surprize which Booth had affected to conceive at her repeating Latin with so
good a Grace, to comment on that great Absurdity, (for so she termed it,) of
excluding Women from Learning; for which they were equally qualified with the
Men, and in which so many had made so notable a Proficiency: for a Proof of
which, she mentioned Madam Dacier, and many others.
    Tho' both Booth and Amelia outwardly concurred with her Sentiments, it may
be a Question whether they did not assent rather out of Complaisance, than from
their real Judgment.
 

                                  Chapter VIII

            Containing some unaccountable Behaviour in Mrs. Ellison.

Mrs. Ellison made her Entrance at the End of the preceding Discourse. At her
first Appearance she put on an unusual Degree of Formality and Reserve; but when
Amelia had acquainted her that she designed to accept the Favour intended her,
she soon began to alter the Gravity of her Muscles, and presently fell in with
that Ridicule which Booth thought proper to throw on his Yesterday's Behaviour.
    The Conversation now became very lively and pleasant, in which Booth having
mentioned the Discourse that passed in the last Chapter, and having greatly
complimented Mrs. Bennet's Speech on that Occasion, Mrs. Ellison who was as
strenuous an Advocate on the other Side, began to rally that Lady extremely,
declaring it was a certain Sign she intended to marry again soon. »Married
Ladies,« cries she, »I believe, sometimes think themselves in earnest in such
Declarations, tho' they are oftner perhaps meant as Compliments to their
Husbands; but when Widows exclaim loudly against second Marriages, I would
always lay a Wager, that the Man, if not the Wedding-day, is absolutely fixed
on.«
    Mrs. Bennet made very little Answer to this Sarcasm. Indeed she had scarce
opened her Lips from the Time of Mrs. Ellison's coming into the Room, and had
grown particularly grave at the Mention of the Masquerade. Amelia imputed this
to
