herself is a
professed adept.

During her short visit, she labored so sedulously not to diminish by her
conversation the character she was so desirous to establish, that her
efforts defeated the end they aimed to secure. She was witty with all
her might, and her sarcastic turn, for wit it was not, made little
amends for her want of simplicity. I perceived that she was fond of the
bold, the marvelous, and the incredible. She ventured to tell a story or
two, so little within the verge of ordinary probability, that she risked
her credit for veracity without, perhaps, really violating truth. The
credit acquired by such relations seldom pays the relator for the hazard
run by the communication.

As we fell into conversation, I observed the peculiarities of her
character. She never sees any difficulties in any question. Whatever the
topic is started, while the rest of the company are hesitating as to the
propriety of their determination, she alone is never at a loss. Her
answer always follows the proposition, without a moment's interval for
examination herself, or for allowing any other person a chance of
delivering an opinion.

Mr. Stanley, who always sets an example of strict punctuality to his
family, had to-day come in to perform his daily devotions somewhat later
than usual. I could perceive that he had been a little moved. His
countenance wanted something of its placid serenity, though it seemed to
be seriousness untinctured with anger. He confessed while we were at
breakfast, that he had been spending above an hour in bringing one of
his younger children to a sense of a fault she had committed. "She has
not," said he, "told an absolute falsehood, but in what she said there
was prevarication, there was pride, there was passion. Her perverseness
has at length given way. Tears of resentment are changed into tears of
contrition. But she is not to appear in the drawing-room to-day. She is
to be deprived of the honor of carrying food to the poor in the evening.
Nor is she to furnish her contribution of nosegays to Rachel's basket.
This is a mode of punishment we prefer to that of curtailing any
personal indulgences; the importance we should assign to the privation
would be setting too much value on the enjoyment."

"You should be careful, Mr. Stanley," said Miss Sparkes, "not to break
the child's spirit. Too tight a rein will check her generous ardor, and
curb her genius. I would not subdue the independence of her mind, a