except their
skill in hair-dressing.'"

"It seemed a cruel reproach from a professed friend," said Sir John,
"and yet it is a literal truth. I know not what can be done for them, or
for what they are fit. Their accomplishments might be turned to some
account, if they were accompanied with real knowledge, useful
acquirements, or sober habits. Mrs. Fentham wishes us to recommend them
as governesses. But can I conscientiously recommend to others, girls
with whom I could not trust my own family? Had they been taught to look
no higher than the clerks of their father, who had been a clerk himself,
they might have been happy; but those very men will now think them as
much beneath themselves, as the young ladies lately thought they were
above them."

"I have often," said Mr. Stanley, "been amused, with observing what a
magic transformation the same event produces on two opposite classes of
characters. The misfortunes of their acquaintance convert worldly
friends into instantaneous strictness of principle. The faults of the
distressed are produced as a plea for their own hard-hearted
covetousness; while that very misfortune so relaxes the strictness of
good men, that the faults are forgotten in the calamity! and they, who
had been perpetually warning the prodigal of his impending ruin, when
that ruin comes, are the first to relieve him."

It was agreed among us that some small contribution must be added to a
little sum that had been already raised, for their immediate relief; but
that nothing was so difficult, as effectually to serve persons whose
views wore so disproportioned to their deserts, and whose habits would
be too likely to carry corruption into families who might receive them
from charitable motives.

The conversation then fell insensibly on the pleasure we had enjoyed
since we had been together; and on the delights of rational society, and
confidential intercourse such as ours had been, where minds mingled, and
affection and esteem were reciprocal. Mr. Stanley said many things which
evinced how happily his piety was combined with the most affectionate
tenderness of heart. Indeed I had always been delighted to observe in
him a quality which is not so common as it is thought to be, a thorough
capacity for friendship.

"My dear Stanley," said Sir John, "it is of the very essence of human
enjoyments, that they must have an end. I observe with regret, that the
time assigned for our visit is more than elapsed. We hav