representativeness; the mind has nothing presented to it, but what is
immediately followed by a reflection of conscience, which tells you
whether that which was so presented is graceful or unbecoming.

6. This act of the mind discovers itself in the gesture, by a proper
behaviour in those whose consciousness goes no farther than to direct
them in the just progress of their present thought or action; but
betrays an interruption in every second thought, when the consciousness
is employed in too fondly approving a man's own conceptions; which sort
of consciousness is what we call affectation.

7. As the love of praise is implanted in our bosoms as a strong
incentive to worthy actions; it is a very difficult task to get above a
desire of it for things that should be wholly indifferent. Women, whose
hearts are fixed upon the pleasure they have in the consciousness that
they are the objects of love and admiration, are ever changing the air
of their countenances, and altering the attitude of their bodies, to
strike the hearts of their beholders with a new sense of their beauty.

8. The dressing part of our sex, whose minds are the same with the
sillier part of the other, are exactly in the like uneasy condition to
be regarded for a well tied cravat, an hat cocked with an unusual
briskness, a very well chosen coat, or other instances of merit, which
they are impatient to see unobserved.

9. But this apparent affectation, arising from an ill governed
consciousness, is not so much to be wondered at in such loose and
trivial minds as these. But when you see it reign in characters of worth
and distinction, it is what you cannot but lament, nor without some
indignation. It creeps into the heart of the wise man, as well as that