take it up.
And, what can be more rude? I would as soon forgive a man that should
stop my mouth when I was gaping, as take my words as it were, me while I
was speaking them. Now, if this be unpardonable.

42. It cannot be less so to help out or forestall the slow speaker, as
if you alone were rich in expressions, and he were poor. You may take it
for granted, every one is vain enough to think he can talk well, though
he may modestly deny it; helping a person out, therefore, in his
expressions, is a correction that will stamp the corrector with
impudence and ill-manners.

43. Those who contradict others upon all occasions, and make every
assertion a matter of dispute, betray by this behaviour an
unacquaintance with good-breeding. He, therefore, who wishes to appear
amiable, with those he converses with, will be cautious of such
expressions as these, "That can't be true, sir." "The affair is as I
say." "That must be false, sir." "If what you say is true, &c." You may
as well tell a man he lies at once, as thus indirectly impeach his
veracity. It is equally as rude to be proving every trifling assertion
with a bet or a wager--"I'll bet you fifty of it," and so on. Make it
then a constant rule, in matters of no great importance, complaisantly
to submit your opinion to that of others; for a victory of this kind
often costs a man the loss of a friend.

44. Giving advice unasked, is another piece of rudeness: it is, in
effect, declaring ourselves wiser than those to whom we give it;
reproaching them with ignorance and inexperience. It is a freedom that
ought not to be taken with any common acquaintance, and yet there are
these who will be offended, if their advice is not taken. "Such-a-one,"
say they, "is above being advised. He scorns to listen to my advice;" as
if it were not a mark of greater arrogance to expect every one to submit
to their opinion, than for a man sometimes to follow his own.

45. There is nothing so unpardonably rude, as a seeming inattention to
the person who is speaking to you; tho' you may meet with it in others,
by all means avoid it yourself. Some ill-bred people, while others are
speaking to them, will, instead of looking at or attending to them,
perhaps fix their eyes on the ceiling, or some picture in the room, look
out of the window, play with a dog, their watch-chain, or their cane, or
probably pick their nails or their noses. Nothing betrays a more
trifling mind than this; nor can any thing