st you should be
thought suspicious; than which, there cannot be a more unamiable
character. If you appear mysterious and reserved, others will be truly
so with you: and in this case, there is an end to improvement, for you
will gather no information. Be reserved, but never seem so.

51. There is a fault extremely common with some people, which I would
have you avoid. When their opinion is asked upon any subject, they will
give it with so apparent a diffidence and timidity, that one cannot,
without the utmost pain, listen to them; especially if they are known to
be men of universal knowledge. "Your Lordship will pardon me," says one
of this stamp, "if I should not be able to speak to the case in hand, so
well as it might be wished."--"I'll venture to speak of this matter to
the best of my poor abilities and dullness of apprehension."--"I fear I
shall expose myself, but in obedience to your Lordship's commands,"--and
while they are making these apologies, they interrupt the business and
tire the company.

52. Always look people in the face when you speak to them, otherwise you
will be thought conscious of some guilt; besides, you lose the
opportunity of reading their countenances; from which you will much
better learn the impression your discourse makes upon them, than you can
possibly do from their words; for words are at the will of every one,
but the countenance is frequently involuntary.

53. If, in speaking to a person, you are not heard, and should be
desired to repeat what you said, do not raise your voice in the
repetition, lest you should be thought angry, on being obliged to repeat
what you had said before; it was probably owing to the hearer's
inattention.

54. One word only, as to swearing. Those who addict themselves to it,
and interlard their discourse with oaths, can never be considered as
gentlemen; they are generally people of low education, and are unwelcome
in what is called good company. It is a vice that has no temptation to
plead, but is, in every respect, as vulgar as it is wicked.

55. Never accustom yourself to scandal, nor listen to it; for though it
may gratify the malevolence of some people, nine times out of ten it is
attended with great disadvantages. The very person you tell it to, will,
on reflection, entertain a mean opinion of you, and it will often bring
you into a very disagreeable situation. And as there would be no
evil-speakers, if there were no evil-hearers; it is in scandal a