and
which we should be ashamed to hear said. After all, how few hours are
there in a week, in which a man engaged in the pursuits of life, and a
woman in the duties of a family, wish to employ in music. I am fond of
it myself, and Lady Belfield plays admirably; but with the cares
inseparable from the conscientious discharge of her duty with so many
children, how little time has she to play, or I to listen! But there is
no day, no hour, no meal in which I do not enjoy in her the ever ready
pleasure of an elegant and interesting companion. A man of sense, when
all goes smoothly, wants to be entertained; under vexation to be
soothed; in difficulties to be counseled; in sorrow to be comforted. In
a mere artist can he reasonably look for these resources?"

"Only figure to yourself," replied Mr. Stanley, "my six girls daily
playing their four hours a piece, which is now a moderate allowance! As
we have but one instrument they must be at it in succession, day and
night, to keep pace with their neighbors. If I may compare light things
with serious ones, it would resemble," added he, smiling, "the perpetual
psalmody of good Mr. Nicholars Ferrar, who had relays of musicians every
six hours to sing the whole Psalter through every day and night! I mean
not to ridicule that holy man; but my girls thus keeping their useless
vigils in turn, we should only have the melody without any of the piety.
No, my friend! I will have but two or three singing birds to cheer my
little grove. If all the world are performers, there will soon be no
hearers. Now, as I am resolved in my own family that some shall listen,
I will have but few to perform."

"It must be confessed," said Sir John, "that Miss Rattle is no servile
imitator of the vapid tribe of the superficially accomplished. Her
violent animal spirits prevent her from growing smooth by attrition. She
is as rough and angular as rusticity itself could have made her. Where
strength of character, however, is only marked by the worst concomitant
of strength, which is coarseness, I should almost prefer inanity
itself."

"I should a little fear," said I, "that I lay too much stress on
companionableness; on the _positive duty of being agreeable at home_,
had I not early learned the doctrine from my father, and seen it
exemplified so happy in the practice of my mother."

"I entirely agree with you, Charles," said Mr. Stanley, "as to the
absolute _morality_ of being agreeable and even entertaining