ent bounties and to scheme benevolence, for those about her. We
take such goodness, for the most part, as if it were our due; the
Marys who bring ointment for our feet get but little thanks. Some
of us never feel this devotion at all, or are moved by it to
gratitude or acknowledgment; others only recall it years after,
when the days are past in which those sweet kindnesses were spent
on us, and we offer back our return for the debt by a poor tardy
payment of tears. The forgotten tones of love recur to us, and kind
glances shine out of the past--O so bright and clear!--O so longed
after! because they are out of reach; as holiday music from
with-inside a prison wall--or sunshine seen through the bars; more
prized because unattainable, more bright because of the contrast of
present darkness and solitude, whence there is no escape.--_Henry
Esmond._

In houses where, in place of that sacred, inmost flame of love,
there is discord at the centre, the whole household becomes
hypocritical, and each lies to his neighbor.... Alas that youthful
love and truth should end in bitterness and bankruptcy.... 'Tis a
hard task for women in life, that mask which the world bids them
wear. But there is no greater crime than for a woman who is ill
used and unhappy to show that she is so. The world is quite
relentless about bidding her to keep a cheerful face.--_Henry
Esmond._

O, what a mercy it is that these women do not exercise their powers
oftener. We can't resist them if they do. Let them show ever so
little inclination and men go down on their knees at once; old or
ugly it is all the same, and this I set down as a positive truth. A
woman with fair opportunities, and without an absolute hump, may
marry whom she likes. Only let us be thankful that the darlings are
like the beasts of the field and don't know their own powers. They
would overcome us entirely if they did.--_The Newcomes._

As for women--O my dear friends and brethren in this vale of
tears--did you ever see anything so curious and monstrous and
annoying as the way in which women court Princekin when he is
marriageable!--_The Newcomes._

She was as gentle and amenable to reason, as good-natured a girl
as could be; a little vacant and silly, but some men like dolls for
wives.--_The New