18. As resentment will succeed to disappointment, a desire to mortify will succeed to a desire to please; and the husband may be urged to solicit a mistress, merely by a remembrance of the beauty of his wife, which lasted only till she was known.
Let it therefore be remembered, that none can be disciples of the Graces, but in the school of Virtue; and that those who wish to be lovely, must learn early to be good.
19. A FRIEND of mine has two daughters, whom I will call _Lætitia_ and _Daphne_. The former is one of the greatest beauties of the age in which she lives; the latter no way remarkable for any charms in her person. Upon this one circumstance of their outward form, the good and ill of their life seem to turn. _Lætitia_ has not from her very childhood heard any thing else but commendations of her features and complexion, by which means she is no other than nature made her, a very beautiful outside.
20. The consciousness of her charms has rendered her insupportably vain and insolent towards all who have to do with her. _Daphne_, who was almost twenty before one civil thing had ever been said to her, found herself obliged to acquire some accomplishments to make up for the want of those attractions which she saw in her sister.
21. Poor _Daphne_ was seldom submitted to in a debate wherein she was concerned; her discourse had nothing to recommend it but the good sense of it, and she was always under a necessity to have very well considered what she was to say before she uttered it; while _Lætitia_ was listened to with partiality, and approbation sat in the countenances of those she conversed with, before she communicated what she had to say.
22. These causes have produced suitable effects, and _Lætitia_ is as insipid a companion as _Daphne_ is an agreeable one. _Lætitia_, confident of favour, has studied no arts to please: _Daphne_, despairing of any inclination towards her person, has depended only on her merit. _Lætitia_ has always something in her air that is sullen, grave and disconsolate.
23. _Daphne_ has a countenance that appears cheerful, open and unconcerned. A young gentleman saw _Lætitia_ this winter at play, and became her captive. His fortune was such, that he wanted very little introduction to speak his sentiments to her father. The lover was admitted with the utmost freedom into the family, where a constrained behaviour, severe looks, and distant civilities were the highest favours he could obtain from _Lætitia_; while _Daphne_ used him with the good humour, familiarity, and innocence of a sister.