Page:Original stories from real life 1796.pdf/77

Rh did it involuntarily, for I have accuſtomed myſelf to think of others, and what they will ſuffer on all occaſions: and this lothneſs to offend, or even to hurt the feelings of another, is an inſtantaneous ſpring which actuates my conduct, and makes me kindly affected to every thing that breathes. If I then am ſo careful not to wound a ſtranger, what ſhall I think of your behaviour, Mary, when you laughed at a reſpectable old woman, who beſide her virtues and her age, had been particularly civil to you. I have always ſeen perſons of the weakeſt underſtandings, and whoſe hearts benevolence ſeldom touched, ridicule bodily infirmities, and accidental defects. They could only reliſh the inferior kind of beauty, which I deſcribed this morning, and a ſilly joy has elated their empty ſouls, on finding, by compariſon, that they were ſuperiour to others in that reſpect, though the concluſion was erroneous, for merit, mental acquirements, can only give a juſt claim to ſuperiority. Had you poſſeſſed the ſmalleſt portion of diſcernment, you would ſoon Rh