Fashionable Life," "Frank," "The Modern Griselda," and "Helen." Miss
Edgeworth excels in the truthful delineation of character, and her works
are full of practical good sense and genuine humor.

Mrs. Bollingbroke. I wish I knew what was the matter with me this morning.
Why do you keep the newspaper all to yourself, my dear?

Mr. Bolingbroke. Here it is for you, my dear; I have finished it. Mrs. B.
I humbly thank you for giving it to me when you have done with it. I hate
stale news. Is there anything in the paper? for I can not be at the
trouble of hunting it.

Mr. B. Yes, my dear; there are the marriages of two of our friends.

Mrs.B. Who? Who?

Mr. B. Your friend, the widow Nettleby, to her cousin John Nettleby.

Mrs. B. Mrs. Nettleby? Dear! But why did you tell me?

Mr. B. Because you asked me, my dear.

Mrs. B. Oh, but it is a hundred times pleasanter to read the paragraph
one's self. One loses all the pleasure of the surprise by being told.
Well, whose was the other marriage?

Mr. B. Oh, my dear, I will not tell you; I will leave you the pleasure of
the surprise.

Mrs. B. But you see I can not find it. How provoking you are, my dear! Do