at Mr Merton's. All these young gentlemen and
ladies are continually talking about genteel life and manners, and yet
they are frequently doing things which surprise me. Mr Barlow has always
told me that politeness consisted in a disposition to oblige everybody
around us, and to say or do nothing which can give them disagreeable
impressions. Yet I continually see these young gentlemen striving to do
and say things, for no other reason than to give pain; for, not to go
any farther than the present instance, what motive can Masters Compton
and Mash have had but to mortify you by giving you such a partner? you,
madam, too, who are so kind and good to everybody, that I should think
it impossible not to love you."

"Harry," answered the young lady, "what you say about politeness is
perfectly just. I have heard my uncle and many sensible people say the
same; but, in order to acquire this species of it, both goodness of
heart and a just way of thinking are required; and therefore many people
content themselves with aping what they can pick up in the dress, or
gestures, or cant expressions of the higher classes; just like the poor
ass, which, dressed in the skin of a lion, was taken for the lion
himself, till his unfortunate braying exposed the cheat." "Pray, madam,
what is that story?" said Harry.

"It is a trifling one that I have read," answered Miss Simmons, "of
somebody who, having procured a lion's skin, fastened it round the body
of an ass, and then turned him loose, to the great affright of the
neighbourhood. Those who saw him first, imagined that a monstrous lion
had invaded the country, and fled with precipitation. Even the very
cattle caught the panic and were scattered by hundreds over the plains.
In the meantime the victorious ass pranced and capered along the fields,
and diverted himself with running after the fugitives. But at length, in
the gaiety of his heart, he broke into such a discordant braying, as
surprised those that were nearest, and expected to hear a very different
noise from under the terrible skin. At length a resolute fellow ventured
by degrees nearer to this object of their terror, and discovering the
cheat that had been practised upon them, divested the poor ass of all
his borrowed spoils, and drove him away with his cudgel."

"This story," continued Miss Simmons, "is continually coming into my
mind, when I see anybody imagine himself of great importance, because he
has adopted some particular m