Page:Original stories from real life 1796.pdf/16

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(viii)

caſually inſtill. In order to eradicate theſe prejudices, and ſubſtitute good habits inſtead of thoſe they had careleſsly contracted, Mrs. Maſon never ſuffered them to be out of her ſight. They were allowed to aſk queſtions on all occaſions, a method ſhe would not have adopted, had ſhe educated them from the firſt, according to the ſuggeſtions of her own reaſon, to which experience had given its ſanction.

They had tolerable capacities; but Mary had a turn for ridicule, and Caroline was vain of her perſon. She was, indeed, very handſome, and the inconſiderate encomiums that had, in her preſence, been laviſhed on her beauty made her, even at that early age, affected.

CON-