light heads are carried away by trivialities that would
not move a better-furnished skull; and their only alternative to such
discourse is to plunge over head and ears into the slough of
scandal--which is their chief delight.'

'Not all of them, surely?' cried the lady, astonished at the bitterness
of my remark.

'No, certainly; I exonerate my sister from such degraded tastes, and my
mother too, if you included her in your animadversions.'

'I meant no animadversions against any one, and certainly intended no
disrespectful allusions to your mother. I have known some sensible
persons great adepts in that style of conversation when circumstances
impelled them to it; but it is a gift I cannot boast the possession of.
I kept up my attention on this occasion as long as I could, but when my
powers were exhausted I stole away to seek a few minutes' repose in this
quiet walk. I hate talking where there is no exchange of ideas or
sentiments, and no good given or received.'

'Well,' said I, 'if ever I trouble you with my loquacity, tell me so at
once, and I promise not to be offended; for I possess the faculty of
enjoying the company of those I--of my friends as well in silence as in
conversation.'

'I don't quite believe you; but if it were so you would exactly suit me
for a companion.'

'I am all you wish, then, in other respects?'

'No, I don't mean that. How beautiful those little clusters of foliage
look, where the sun comes through behind them!' said she, on purpose to
change the subject.

And they did look beautiful, where at intervals the level rays of the sun
penetrating the thickness of trees and shrubs on the opposite side of the
path before us, relieved their dusky verdure by displaying patches of
semi-transparent leaves of resplendent golden green.

'I almost wish I were not a painter,' observed my companion.

'Why so? one would think at such a time you would most exult in your
privilege of being able to imitate the various brilliant and delightful
touches of nature.'

'No; for instead of delivering myself up to the full enjoyment of them as
others do, I am always troubling my head about how I could produce the
same effect upon canvas; and as that can never be done, it is more vanity
and vexation of spirit.'

'Perhaps you cannot do it to satisfy yourself, but you may and do succeed
in delighting others with the result of your endeavours.'

'Well, after all, I should not complain: perhaps few peopl