maxims preaching down a
daughter's heart.
"They were dangerous guides the feelings--she herself
was not exempt--
Truly she herself had suffer'd"--perish in thy
self-contempt!

Mrs Clyde's appearance coming so suddenly upon the scene, acted as an
application of the cold douche to all the loving ardour with which I was
addressing Min. It completely spoiled the tableau; checking my eager
impetuosity in a moment, and causing me to remain, tongue-tied, in a
state of almost hopeless embarrassment.

Picture the unexpected presentment of the statue of "The Commander"
before Don Giovanni, and his horror at hearing words proceed from marble
lips! You will, then, be able to form some faint idea of my feelings,
when my pleasant position was thus interrupted by Min's mother. I was
altogether "nonplussed," to use a vulgar but expressive word.

Had she not come in so opportunely--or inopportunely, as _you_ may
think--I don't know what I might not have said.

You see, I was close to my darling, bending down over her and looking
into her beautiful face. I was fathoming the depths of her soul-
lighted, lustrous grey eyes; and, contiguity is sometimes apt in such
circumstances, I am told, to hurry one into the rashness of desperation,
bringing matters to a crisis. However, Mrs Clyde's entrance stopped
all this. I was brought up all at once, "with a round turn," like a
horse in full gallop pulled back on his haunches; or, "all standing," as
a boat with her head to the wind--whichever simile you may best prefer.

A shower-bath is a very excellent thing in its way, when taken at the
proper time and under certain conditions; but those two requirements
must be carefully considered beforehand, for the human frame is a fabric
of very delicate organisation. Any violent change, or hasty
interference with the regular and legitimate working of its functions,
may throw the whole machine out of gear, just as the sudden quickening
of an engine's motions will, probably, cause it to break down or turn it
off the line; while, on the other hand, a wholesome tonic, or fillip,
judiciously administered when occasion seems to demand it, like our
shower-bath, may often better enable it to discharge its duties and go
all the more smoothly and easily--as a tiny touch of the oil-can will
affect the movements of man's mammoth mechanical contrivances, that are
so typical of himself.

There are some people, I am aware, who object to the insti