er mamma no uneasiness as to her carelessness in wearing her
fine clothes. Though her mamma consented to let her be dressed in the
manner she requested, yet she desired her to remember the hints she had
given her of the vexations to which her vanity would expose her.

Miss Caroline, on whom this good advice had no effect, lost not a moment
in destroying all the pleasure and enjoyment of her infancy. Her hair,
which before hung down in careless ringlets, was now twisted up in
paper, and squeezed between a burning pair of tongs; that fine jet,
which had hitherto so happily set off the whiteness of her forehead, was
lost under a clod of powder and pomatum.

In a few days the mantua-maker arrived with a fine slip of pea-green
taffety, with fine pink trimmings, and a pair of shoes, elegantly worked
to answer the slip. The sight of them gave infinite pleasure to
Caroline; but it was easily to be perceived, when she had them on, that
her limbs were under great restraint, and her motions had lost their
accustomed ease and freedom. That innocence and candour, which used to
adorn her lovely countenance, began to be lost amidst the profusion of
flowers, silks, gauzes, and ribands.

The novelty, however, of her appearance quite enchanted her. Her eyes,
with uncommon eagerness, wandered over every part of her dress, and were
seldom removed, unless to take a general survey of the whole in a pier
glass. She prevailed on her mamma to let her send cards of invitation to
all her acquaintances, in order to enjoy the inexpressible pleasure of
being gazed at. As soon as they were met, she would walk backwards and
forwards before them, like a peacock, and seemed to consider herself as
the empress of the world, and they as her vassals.

All this triumph and consequence, however, met with many mortifying
circumstances. The children who lived near her were one day permitted to
ramble about the fields, when Caroline accompanied them, and led the
way. What first attracted their attention was a beautiful meadow,
enamelled with a variety of charming flowers; and butterflies, whose
wings were of various colours, hovered over its surface. The little
ladies amused themselves with hunting these butterflies, which they
dexterously caught without hurting them; and, as soon as they had
examined their beauties, let them fly again. Of the flowers that sprung
beneath their feet they made nosegays, formed in the prettiest taste.

Though pride would not at