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THE CORAL RING. 205 
all your nonsense. Now, don't you (I know you 
do) think just so too ? " 
"Think just so too! Do hear the creature I '"^ 
said Florence. " No, sir ; yoiT can speak for 
yourself in this matter ; but I beg leave to en- 
ter my protest when you speak for me too." 
" Well, now, where is there, coz, among all 
our circle, a young girl that has any sort of pur- 
pose or object in life, to speak of, except to make 
herself as interesting and agreeable as possible 
to be admired, and to pass her time in as amusing 
a way as she can ? Where will you find one, be- 
tween fifteen and twenty, that has any serious 
regard for the improvement and best welfare of 
those with whom she is connected at all, or that 
modifies her conduct in the least, with reference to 
it ? Now, cousin, in very serious earnest, you 
have about as much real character, as much ear- 
nestness and depth of feeling, and as much good 
sense, when one can get at it, as any young lady 
of them all ; and yet, on your conscience, can you 
say that you live with any sort of reference to any 
body's good or to any thing but your own 
amusement and gratification?" 
"What a shocking adjuration!" replied the 
lady, " prefaced, too, by a three-story compliment! 
Well, being so adjured, I must think to the best 
of my ability. And now, seriously and soberly, I 
don't see as I am selfish. I do all that I have any 
occasion to do, for any body. You know that we 
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