initiating her in the practical rules of good breeding, had taught
her to subdue the timid fears of total inexperience, and to repress
the bashful feelings of shamefaced awkwardness; fears and feelings
which rather call for compassion than admiration, and which, except
in extreme youth, serve but to degrade the modesty they indicate.

She regarded, therefore, the two young ladies between whom she was
seated, rather with a wish of addressing, than a shyness of being
attacked by them; but the elder, Miss Larolles, was earnestly
engaged in discourse with a gentleman, and the younger, Miss Leeson,
totally discouraged her, by the invariable silence and gravity with
which from time to time she met her eyes.

Uninterrupted, therefore, except by occasional speeches from Mr and
Mrs Harrel, she spent the first part of the evening merely in
surveying the company.

Nor was the company dilatory in returning her notice, since from the
time of her entrance into the room, she had been the object of
general regard.

The ladies took an exact inventory of her dress, and internally
settled how differently they would have been attired if blessed with
equal affluence.

The men disputed among themselves whether or not she was painted;
and one of them asserting boldly that she rouged well, a debate
ensued, which ended in a bet, and the decision was mutually agreed
to depend upon the colour of her cheeks by the beginning of April,
when, if unfaded by bad hours and continual dissipation, they wore