34^ MADAME GE0FFRX2T. 



Mm twelve livres ; and the two others who had fpoke 

 in his behalf, three livres each. 



She was once told how badly fhe was ferved by her 

 milk-woman. " I know it very well, anfwered fhe, 

 but I cannot turn her off." — 66 And why not, ma- 

 dam ?" — " Becaufe I have given her two cows." — This 

 feemed a very extraordinary reafon. " Why yes, fo 

 it is, continued fhe, fhe fold milk at my gate : my 

 people told me fhe was quite diftreffed, that {hp ha4 

 lofl her cow ; and, as they were rather of the lateft 

 in telling me of the calamity, I gave her two cows, 

 one for repairing her lofs., and the other to comfort her 

 in the trouble fhe had now been fufFering for eight or 

 ten days : you fee therefore that I cannot difcharge 

 the milk-woman." Thefe two inflances of humanity 

 fa affected Made moi Telle de TEfpinafTe, that the 

 thought flruck her of making them into a couple of 

 fhort chapters to Stevens's fentiniental journey, 



The moil curious particular in her generous cha~ 

 facler was her abhorrence for all returning of thanks, 

 I will pay myfelf by my own hands, fhe ufed to fay, 

 And accordingly, fhe would often preach up the 

 praife of ingratitude, and loudly maintained that fhq 

 loved the ungrateful. 



" The grateful perfon, fhe would fay, runs and tells 

 all the world that he has received a benefit from you* 

 All that hear it, pretend forfooth to take it amifs, that 

 you did not chufe them or their friends for the objects 

 of your bounty ; and then fet their wits to work to 

 prefent you with an opportunity for atoning for your 

 miftake as foon as pofflble. By this means one is often 

 expofed to the necefiity either of giving harfh and dif- 

 7 agreeably 



