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fishness, because it shews how short the space is 

 between right and wrong. I went one evening 

 to the drawing-room in search of my brother, 

 but he was not there. My father had a book 

 open near him, though he was not reading; 

 my mother was working, and both looking sad 

 and anxious ; I was quickly retiring out of the 

 room, when my father, stretching out his hand, 

 and drawing me gently towards him said, " Ger- 

 trude, my love, stay with us. We have had 

 some unpleasant news to-day. Your poor mo- 

 ther and I are too low-spirited to amuse each 

 other ; and we want you, my dear child, to cheer 

 us a little." 



" Yes, papa," said I, " I will come as soon as 

 I can," and I hurried away. I shall never for- 

 get his look of disappointment. Can you believe 

 it ? I was so callous to every good feeling that I 

 coolly sat down to finish some mathematical 

 question in which I had been engaged, before I 

 condescended to return ! But you will ask had 

 I no principles, no sense of duty or religion to 

 guide me ? Yes, I had principles, but they were 

 always warped by some silly enthusiasm : I had 

 religion, but it was that sort of highly wrought 

 sentiment which produces no good fruits : it was 

 very spiritual I thought, but it had little influ- 

 ence on my actions. 



My mother was anxious to bring me more into 

 the world ; and I complained myself sometimes 



