his conjectures generally arose from distinct ideas, and a dawn of light
allowed him to see a great way farther than common mortals.

He was now convinced that the orphan was not very unfortunate in having
lost such a mother. The parent that inspires fond affection without
respect, is seldom an useful one; and they only are respectable, who
consider right and wrong abstracted from local forms and accidental
modifications.

Determined to adopt the child, he named it after himself, Sagesta, and
retired to the hut where the innocent slept, to think of the best method
of educating this child, whom the angry deep had spared.

[The last branch of the education of Sagesta, consisted of a variety of
characters and stories presented to her in the Cave of Fancy, of which
the following is a specimen.]

CHAP.

A FORM now approached that particularly struck and interested Sagesta.
The sage, observing what passed in her mind, bade her ever trust to the
first impression. In life, he continued, try to remember the effect the
first appearance of a stranger has on your mind; and, in proportion to
your sensibility, you may decide on the character. Intelligence glances
from eyes that have the same pursuits, and a benevolent heart soon traces
the marks of benevolence on the countenance of an unknown
fellow-creature; and not only the countenance, but the gestures, the
voice, loudly speak truth to the unprejudiced mind.

Whenever a stranger advances towards you with a tripping step, receives
you with broad smiles, and a profusion of compliments, and yet you find
yourself embarrassed and unable to return the salutation with equal
cordiality, be assured that such a person is affected, and endeavours to
maintain a very good character in the eyes of the world, without really
practising the social virtues which dress the face in looks of unfeigned
complacency. Kindred minds are drawn to each other by expressions which
elude description; and, like the calm breeze that plays on a smooth lake,
they are rather felt than seen. Beware of a man who always appears in
good humour; a selfish design too frequently lurks in the smiles the
heart never curved; or there is an affectation of candour that destroys
all strength of character, by blending truth and falshood into an
unmeaning mass. The mouth, in fact, seems to be the feature where you may
trace every kind of dissimulation, from the simper of vanity, to the
fixed smile of the designing v