33 2 MADAME GEOFFRIN. 



while yet in my cradle. I was brought up by an old 

 grandmother, who pofTefTed a great fhare of undemand- 

 ing, with an unaccountable head. She had received very 

 little inftruclion ; but her mind was fo enlightened, ex- 

 ercifed, and active, that it never left her at a lofs, and 

 always compenfated for the want of learning. She was 

 itfed to goffip fo agreeably on matters which fhe did 

 not underiland, that nobody ever wifhed her to have 

 imderftood them better ; and though her ignorance was 

 ever fo manifelt, yet fhe brought it out in fo pleafant 

 and humourous a way, as to confound the pedants that 

 wanted to fhame her. She was fo fatisfied with her 

 lot, that fhe looked upon learning as a matter that a 

 woman may very well do without. I have fo well done 

 without it, faid fhe, that I have never once been able 

 to perceive the neceffity of it. If my grand-daughter 

 be dull, learning will only make her politive and in- 

 fupportable ; but if fhe have a quick underflanding 

 with fenfibility, fhe will imitate me, and by ingenuity 

 and fentiment make up for what fhe does not know ; 

 or fet about learning that to which Ihe feels the mofl 

 aptitude, and thereby learn it with the greater rapidity. 

 In confequence of thefe maxims, I was not permitted 

 in my childhood to learn any thing more than to read, 

 but I was obliged to read a great deal. She taught me 

 to think, by making me pafs a judgement on every 

 ihing; fhe taught me to know mankind, by requiring 

 me to tell her what I thought of them ; at the fame 

 time giving me her own opinion. She would have an 

 account of all my actions, of all my perceptions, and 

 ihe corrected them in fo excellent a method, and with 

 fo much gentlenefs, that I never concealed from her 



even 



