112 COUNTRY AND TOWN CONTRASTED. 



LETTER XIV. 



FROM EMILY TO CAROLINE. 



DEAR CAROLINE, 



So far from pitying you for your banishment 

 from London;, and from all the luxuries of genteel 

 life^, I am inclined to envy the delights you enjoy in 

 your snug cottage ; where you seem to possess all the 

 solid comforts you can desire, with many intellectual 

 pleasures that are seldom to be found amongst those 

 who are continually on the search for something new 

 to banish reflection and kill time. The society of 

 Mrs. Saville and the amiable Rachel alone is a com- 

 pensation for that of half your town acquaintance, 

 whose highest subject of investigation is the most be- 

 coming dishabille, or the most dazzling full dress. 

 The Misses Ormond weary me with this topic : every 

 time they have a fresh supply from their milliner or 

 dress-maker, their coach is ordered, for the friendly 

 purpose of exhibiting the latest fashions to my admir- 

 ing eyes. But your example has checked my ardom* 

 for being the first in the mode, or giving in to every 

 folly that is authorised by the multitude. My ap- 



