Page:Francesca Carrara 2.pdf/6

Rh "Don't say yourselves—say my sister, at once. Henriette has been your friend, not I; and as to envy—look at your face in yonder glass—wasted on you, I must say; for beauty, properly managed, is woman's power. Now I understand the management, while you have the means, and, as I said before, quite wasted upon you."

Francesca could not help laughing, as she asked, "Why, what would you have me do?"

"It is not to be taught!—but how many opportunities have I seen you throw away! Ah! beauty without vanity is but a sort of barbaric gold, unfit for any of the purposes of civilised life. I can only supply its place by the delusions of self-love—by deceiving people into the belief that they are thinking of me, when they are in reality thinking of themselves. How often am I obliged to speak mal à propos, because my features are not sufficiently charming in a state of repose!—how often is my ingenuity racked to find a word, when a look would have been far better! I am compelled to be amusing, in my own despite."

"A great misfortune, truly."

"Yes, it is; for amusement destroys interest. There is nothing for which people are less grateful than for being entertained; in their hearts they are ashamed of not being able to entertain