Page:Ethel Churchill 1.pdf/287

Rh according to the principles laid down in moral essays." "Moral essays are only a series of mistakes," interrupted her ladyship: "our first duty to ourselves, is to enjoy ourselves as much as possible. Now, to accomplish that, we must cultivate all our bad qualities: I can assure you I am quite alarmed when I discover any good symptoms." "You are laughing!" replied her listener. "I laugh at most things," returned the other; "and that is the reason why people in general do not understand me. A person who wishes to be popular, should never laugh at any thing. A jest startles people from that tranquil dulness in which they love to indulge: they do not like it till age has worn off the joke's edge. Moreover, there is no risk in laughing, if a great many laugh before you venture to laugh too," "How very true!" exclaimed Henrietta; "there is nothing so little understood as wit."