Chap. XIII. BLUSHING. 333 



suspects that others take a different view of it, will blush. 

 For instance, a lady by herself may give money to a 

 beggar without a trace of a blush, but if others are pres- 

 ent, and she doubts whether they approve, or suspects 

 that they think her influenced by display, she will blush. 

 So it will be, if she offers to relieve the distress of a de- 

 cayed gentlewoman, more particularly of one whom she 

 had previously known under better circumstances, as 

 she cannot then feel sure how her conduct will be viewed. 

 But such cases as these blend into shyness. 



Breaches of etiquette. — The rules of etiquette always 

 refer to conduct in the presence of, or towards others. 

 They have no necessary connection with the moral sense, 

 and are often meaningless. Nevertheless as they depend 

 on the fixed custom of our equals and superiors, whose 

 opinion we highly regard, they are considered almost 

 as binding as are the laws of honour to a gentleman. 

 Consequently the breach of the laws of etiquette, that 

 is, any impoliteness or gaudier ie, any impropriety, or an 

 inappropriate remark, though quite accidental, will 

 cause the most intense blushing of which a man is capa- 

 ble. Even the recollection of such an act, after an in- 

 terval of many years, will make the whole body to tingle. 

 So strong, also, is the power of sympathy that a sensitive 

 person, as a lady has assured me, will sometimes blush 

 at a flagrant breach of etiquette by a perfect stranger, 

 though the act may in no way concern her. 



Modesty. — This is another powerful agent in exciting 

 blushes; but the word modest}^ includes very different 

 states of the mind. It implies humility, and we often 

 judge of this by persons being greatly pleased and blush- 

 ing at slight praise, or by being annoyed at praise which 

 seems to them too high according to their own humble 

 standard of themselves. Blushing here has the usual 



