Page:A short history of social life in England.djvu/264

244 a guinea entrance fee and ten shillings extra for materials, neither of which items was grudged by her father. "I find you have a desire to learn to Japan and I approve of it," he writes to her, "and so I shall of anything that is good and virtuous, and therefore learn in God's name all good things, for I admire all accomplishments that will render you considerable and lovely in the sight of God and man."

It is to be feared that the capacity to please man was the principal object in Molly's education, for marriage was as yet the only vocation for women and union to some wealthy gentleman the sole ambition of every father for his daughter. The emptiness of women's lives is somewhat revealed by this supposed extract from a lady's diary of a slightly later period. "Wednesday, 8-10.—Drank two dishes of chocolate in bed, and fell asleep after 'em. "10-12.—Eat a slice of bread and butter, drank a dish of black tea, read the Spectator. "11-1.—At my toilet, try'd a new head. Gave orders for Veney to be combed and washed. Mem., I look best in blue. "1.—Called for my flowered Handkerchief, worked half a violet leaf in it—eyes ached and