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26 AFFECTATION. 



such affectation may be to a certain extent excusable. 

 Not so in the woman. We naturally expect her to 

 rise above the follies and weaknesses of the mere girl. 

 When affectation is perceived in ladies who have lived 

 to the age of fifty in single blessedness, it may in 

 some degree be accounted for. In them, however, it 

 is by no means a recommendation, and they may be 

 assured that the sooner they endeavour to get over 

 such a weakness, the better - the better for the 

 comfort of others, and perhaps their own. 



In a wife or a mother, affectation is insufferable. 

 Yet how often does she assume the tone and manners 

 of a person in much higher rank of life ! And then 

 what an effort there is to keep up the appearance! 

 She labours hard to find out long and high sounding 

 words which, when strung together without sense or 

 judgment, she fancies to be refined language. But at 

 ength out pops some low-life phrase which spoils the 

 whole. Her weakness, if not discovered before, is now 

 sufficiently apparent; and she is ready to bite her lips 

 with rage, when she perceives a restrained smile, at 

 her expense, on the countenances of those around her. 



But supposing this not the case. She proceeds in her 

 attempt to make those who do not know her (and to such 

 she for the most part confines her conversation) believe 

 that she possesses more knowledge or wealth than 

 has yet fallen to her lot. If she happens to have a 

 smattering of any particular science, it is sure to be 

 put forth. She proceeds as far as her very imperfect 

 knowledge will carry her, without leaving room for 

 others to have much to say, and then is quite disposed 

 to turn to another topic. But this, perhaps, is not 

 immediately permitted. Some unexpected query 

 is unfortunately put to the learned lady. Alas ! she is 

 compelled to confess her ignorance of a subject, her 

 fancied knowledge of which she was so eager to 

 display. 



Should the conversation turn on matters of less 

 importance, her affectation will be sure to destroy any 

 pleasure that might result from it. Perhaps with the 



