250 CHARACTER OF MRS. SAVILLE. 



LETTER XXX. 



FROM CAROLINE TO EMILY. 



MY DEAR EMILY, 



Few are better qualified to define what hap- 

 piness is, than Mrs. Saville ; because she enjoys as 

 large a share of it as can fall to the lot of a mortal. 

 The retrospect of her past life, and the animating 

 hope of that which is to come, shed a constant cheer- 

 fulness over her mind, that diffuses itself in benevo- 

 lence towards others, and is visible in all her actions. 

 The dutiful affection of her daughter, the attachment 

 of her friends, the fidelity of her servant, the love of 

 her neighbours, are the possessions on which she sets 

 the highest value, and secures to herself by her own 

 conduct. A woman with such a taste has no occa- 

 sion for wealth, because she is satisfied with those 

 reasonable gratifications, which, though valuable, are 

 not costly. Do not suppose that she is of a gloomy, 

 reserved disposition : she is fond of society, and, by 

 the vivacity and interest of her remarks, forms the 

 chief ornament of that which she frequents. One of 

 her pure pleasures is the assembling of a select circle 



