AUGUST 413 



accusation, I believe, was true — that the heroine made 

 herself two years younger than she really was, i.e., she 

 begins the journal nominally at the age of twelve, 

 whereas she was really fourteen. In spite of its faults, 

 I believe this book will remain for all time a most use- 

 ful introduction to the knowledge of that strange 

 being — a young girl, say, from sixteen to twenty-one. 

 Its exaggeration is that of a microscope, which reveals 

 nature without distorting it. This constitutes its 

 utility for all mothers who have girls growing up 

 around them. 



A girl should bear in mind that it is quite possible 

 she is a cause of considerable disappointment to her 

 mother, and this possibility should be thought of 

 humbly and affectionately rather than with resentment. 

 For though, perhaps, it is due to no fault of her own, 

 the disappointment is none the less real to her mother. 

 She should do her utmost to make herself as pleasant 

 in her home as she can. What elders expect from the 

 young is a fair amount of willingly given assistance 

 and unselfish cheerfulness. Few things, I think, con- 

 tribute more to happiness in the home than a certain 

 power of conversation ; and, if it does not come natur- 

 ally to them, girls would do well to try and acquire it. 

 Any moderately intelligent woman can learn 'to talk' ; 

 and to be absolutely silent in society is not modesty, 

 but a form of selfishness, for it casts a gloom over 

 everyone present. The true greatness of individuals 

 lies in their own hearts, and conversation is as much 

 a question of kindness as of cleverness. Mr. George 

 Meredith, in 'Beauchamp's Career,' describes delight- 

 fully the charm of conversation in a girl. Of course 

 all cannot have this, but all can try for it : 'Rente's 

 gift of speech counted iinnumbered strings, which she 

 played on with a grace that clothed the skill and was 



