MEANS OP THE EXPRESSION OP THE EMOTIONS. 293 



me that he had been an eye-witness of the following 

 scene : A small dinner-party was giyen in honor of an 

 extremely shy man, who, when he rose to return thanks, 

 rehearsed the speech, which he had evidently learned by 

 heart, in absolute silence, and did not utter a single 

 word ; but he acted as if he were speaking with much 

 emphasis. His friends, perceiving how the case stood, 

 loudly applauded the imaginary bursts of eloquence, 

 whenever his gestures indicated a pause, and the man 

 never discovered that he had remained the whole time 

 completely silent. On the contrary, he afterward re- 

 marked to my friend, with much satisfaction, that he 

 thought he had succeeded uncommonly well, 



BLUSHING NOT NECESSAEILT AN EXPEESSION OP GUILT. 



p ^ It is not the sense of guilt, but the thought 



that others think or know us to be guilty, 

 which crimsons the face. A man may feel thoroughly 

 ashamed at having told a small falsehood, without blush- 

 ing ; but if he even suspects that he is detected he will 

 instantly blush, especially if detected by one whom he 

 reveres. 



On the other hand, a man may be convinced that God 

 witnesses all his actions, and he may feel deeply conscious 

 of some fault and pray for forgiveness ; but this will not, 

 as a lady who is a great blusher believes, ever excite a 

 blush. The explanation of this difference between the 

 knowledge by God and man of our actions lies, I presume, 

 in man's disapprobation of immoral conduct being some- 

 what akin in nature to his depreciation of our personal 

 appearance, so that through association both lead to simi- 

 lar results ; whereas the disapprobation of God briiigs up 

 no such association. 



