Stanley, "commonly
occupies less time than the music of a musical woman, or the idleness of
an indolent woman, or the dress of a vain woman, or the dissipation of a
fluttering woman; she is therefore likely to have more leisure for her
duties, as well as more inclination, and a sounder judgment for
performing them. But pray observe, that I assume my reading woman to be
a religious woman; and I will not answer for the effect of a literary
vanity, more than for that of any other vanity, in a mind not habitually
disciplined by Christian principle, the only safe and infallible
antidote for knowledge of every kind."

Before we had finished our conversation, we were interrupted by the
arrival of the post. Sir John eagerly opened the newspaper; but, instead
of gratifying our impatience with the intelligence for which we panted
from the glorious Spaniards, he read a paragraph which stated "that Miss
Denham had eloped with Signor Squallini, that they were on their way to
Scotland, and that Lady Denham had been in fits ever since."

Lady Belfield with her usual kindness was beginning to express how much
she pitied her old acquaintance. "My dear Caroline," said Sir John,
"there is too much substantial and inevitable misery in the world, for
you to waste much compassion on this foolish woman. Lady Denham has
little reason to be surprised at an event which all reasonable people
must have anticipated. Provoking and disgraceful as it is, what has she
to blame but her own infatuation? This Italian was the associate of all
her pleasures; the constant theme of her admiration. He was admitted
when her friends were excluded. The girl was continually hearing that
music was the best gift, and that Signor Squallini was the best gifted.
Miss Denham," added, he laughing, "had more wit than your Strada's
nightingale. Instead of dropping down dead on the lute for envy, she
thought it better to run away with the lutanist for love. I pity the
poor girl, however, who has furnished such a commentary to our text, and
who is rather the victim of a wretched education than of her own bad
propensities."

CHAPTER XXIV.

I had generally found that a Sunday passed in a visit was so heavy a
day, that I had been accustomed so to arrange my engagements, as
commonly to exclude this from the days spent from home. I had often
found that even where the week had been pleasantly occupied, the
necessity of passing several hours of a season peculiarly desig