intended to
fold up linen and nurse the sick.

Anxious to observe the mother of his charge, he turned to the lily that
had been so rudely snapped, and, carefully observing it, traced every
fine line to its source. There was a delicacy in her form, so truly
feminine, that an involuntary desire to cherish such a being, made the
sage again feel the almost forgotten sensations of his nature. On
observing her more closely, he discovered that her natural delicacy had
been increased by an improper education, to a degree that took away all
vigour from her faculties. And its baneful influence had had such an
effect on her mind, that few traces of the exertions of it appeared on
her face, though the fine finish of her features, and particularly the
form of the forehead, convinced the sage that her understanding might
have risen considerably above mediocrity, had the wheels ever been put in
motion; but, clogged by prejudices, they never turned quite round, and,
whenever she considered a subject, she stopped before she came to a
conclusion. Assuming a mask of propriety, she had banished nature; yet
its tendency was only to be diverted, not stifled. Some lines, which took
from the symmetry of the mouth, not very obvious to a superficial
observer, struck Sagestus, and they appeared to him characters of
indolent obstinacy. Not having courage to form an opinion of her own, she
adhered, with blind partiality, to those she adopted, which she received
in the lump, and, as they always remained unopened, of course she only
saw the even gloss on the outside. Vestiges of anger were visible on her
brow, and the sage concluded, that she had often been offended with, and
indeed would scarcely make any allowance for, those who did not coincide
with her in opinion, as things always appear self-evident that have never
been examined; yet her very weakness gave a charming timidity to her
countenance; goodness and tenderness pervaded every lineament, and melted
in her dark blue eyes. The compassion that wanted activity, was sincere,
though it only embellished her face, or produced casual acts of charity
when a moderate alms could relieve present distress. Unacquainted with
life, fictitious, unnatural distress drew the tears that were not shed
for real misery. In its own shape, human wretchedness excites a little
disgust in the mind that has indulged sickly refinement. Perhaps the
sage gave way to a little conjecture in drawing the last conclusion; but