--nothing but the
consciousness of her gentle spirit, ever hovering around my path,
saddened by my conflicts, rejoicing in my triumphs, could ever have
given me courage and perseverance to resist, and finally escape, the
pitfalls into which my unwary steps would have plunged me. Had I
approached the outskirts of fashionable life, and been compelled to
linger with longing eyes at the threshold; I might even now be loitering
there, a deceived spectator of joys which it was not permitted to me to
enter and share; or, having gained a partial entrance, be eagerly
employed, in pushing my way onward.

"But admitted at once into the arcana of a sphere I was eager to
penetrate, my eyes were soon opened to the vain and worthless nature of
the bauble Fashion. Not that I did not meet within its courts the wit,
talent, and refinement which I had hoped to find there, or that these
were invariably accompanied by less attractive qualities. No; I truly
believe there is no class which cannot boast of its heroes and heroines,
and that there are, within the walks of fashionable life, men and women
who would grace a wilderness. Nor do I despise forms and ceremonies
which are becoming in themselves, and conducive to elegance and good
breeding. As long as one class is distinguished by education and refined
manners, and another is marked by ignorance and vulgarity, there must be
a dividing line between the two, which neither perhaps would desire to
overstep."

"You are young," said Mr. Amory, "to be such a philosopher. Many a man
has turned away with disgust from an aristocracy into which he could
himself gain no admittance; but few renounce it voluntarily."

"Few, perhaps," replied Willie, "few _young_ men have had to penetrate
its secrets. I may say without treachery, since I speak in general terms
only, that I have seen more ignorance, more ill-breeding, meanness, and
immorality in the so-called aristocracy of our country than I should
have believed it possible would be tolerated there. I have known
instances in which the most accomplished gentleman, or the most
beautiful lady, of a gay circle has given evidence of want of
information on the most common topics. I have seen elegant evening
assemblies disgraced by the greatest rudeness and incivility. I have
seen the lavish expenditure of to-day atoned for by a despicable
parsimony on the morrow; and I have seen a want of principle exhibited
by both sexes, which proves that a high position