determine. Certain it is, that the novel-writers of the subsequent
period have, in general, been as little disposed to represent these
qualities as forming an indispensable part of the female character, as
the contemporary young ladies themselves have been to supply them with
patterns. I a little fear that the predominance of this sort of reading
has contributed its full share to bring such qualities into contempt."

Miss Sparkes characteristically observed, that "the meanest
understanding and most vulgar education were competent to form such a
wife as the generality of men preferred. That a man of talents, dreading
a rival, always took care to secure himself by marrying a fool."

"Always excepting the present company, madam, I presume," said Mr.
Stanley, laughing. "But pardon me, if I differ from you. That many men
are sensual in their appetites, and low in their relish of intellectual
pleasures, I confess. That many others, who are neither sensual, nor of
mean attainments, prefer women whose ignorance will favor their indolent
habits, and whom it requires no exertion of mind to entertain, I allow
also. But permit me to say, that men of the most cultivated minds, and
who admire talents in a woman, are still of opinion that _domestic_
talents can never be dispensed with: and I totally dissent from you in
thinking that these qualities infer the absence of higher attainments,
and necessarily imply a sordid or a vulgar mind.

"Any ordinary art, after it is once discovered, may be practiced by a
very common understanding. In this, as in every thing else, the kind
arrangements of Providence are visible, because, as the common arts
employ the mass of mankind, they could not be universally carried on, if
they were not of easy and cheap attainment. Now, cookery is one of these
arts, and I agree with you, madam, in thinking that a mean understanding
and a vulgar education suffice to make a good cook. But a cook or
housekeeper, and a lady qualified to wield a considerable establishment,
are two very different characters. To prepare a dinner, and to conduct a
great family, require talents of a very different size: and one reason
why I would never choose to marry a woman ignorant of domestic affairs
is, that she who wants, or she who despises this knowledge, must possess
that previous bad judgment which, as it prevented her from seeing this
part of her duty, would be likely to operate on other occasions."

"I entirely agree with