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“Well, Mrs. Appleton,” Louisa said with a deep inspiration, as that lady ceased speaking, “I cannot say that I think you did wrong: indeed, I feel that you were right; but I cannot act from such unselfish motives; it is not in me.”

“But you can compel yourself to do right, Louisa, even where there is no genuine good impulse prompting to correct actions. It is by our thus compelling ourselves, and struggling against the activity of a wrong motive, that a right one is formed. If I had consulted only my feelings, and had suffered only offended self-love to speak, I should never have persevered in seeing my friend; to this day there would have been a gulf between us.”

“Still, it seems to me that we ought not, as a general thing, to humour persons in these idle whims; it only confirms them in habits of mind that make them sources of perpetual annoyance to their friends. Indeed, as far as I am concerned, I desire to be freed from acquaintances of this description; I do not wish my peace ever and anon interfered with in such an unpleasant way.”

“We should not,” Mrs. Appleton replied, “consider only ourselves in these, or indeed in any matters pertaining to social intercourse, but should endeavour sometimes to look away from what is most pleasant and gratifying to ourselves, and study to make others happy. You know that the appearance which true politeness puts on is that of preferring others to ourselves. We offer them the best seats, or the most eligible positions; or present them with the choicest viands at the table. We introduce subjects of conversation that we think will interest others more than ourselves, and deny ourselves in various ways, that others may be obliged and gratified. Now, the question is, are these mere idle and unmeaning forms? Or is it right that we should feel as we act? If they are unmeaning forms, then are the courtesies of social intercourse a series of acts most grossly hypocritical. If not so, then it is right that we should prefer others to ourselves; and it is right for us, when we find that a friend is under a painful mistake–even if to approach her may cause some sacrifice of our feelings–for us to go to that friend and disabuse her mind of error. Do you not think so, Louisa?”

“I certainly cannot gainsay your position, Mrs. Appleton; but still I feel altogether disinclined to make any overtures to Maria.”

“Why so, Louisa?”

“Because I can imagine no cause for her present strange conduct, and therefore see no way of approaching”–

The individual about whom they had been conversing passed near them at this moment, and caused Mrs. Appleton and Louisa to remember that they were prolonging their conversation to too great an extent for a social party.

“We will talk about this again,” Mrs. Appleton said, rising and passing to the side of Maria.

“You do not seem cheerful to-night, Maria; or am I mistaken in my observation of your face?” Mrs. Appleton said in a pleasant tone.

“I was not aware that there was any thing in my manner that indicated the condition of mind to which you allude,” the young lady replied, with a smile.

“There seemed to me such an indication, but perhaps it was only an appearance.”

“Perhaps so,” said Maria, with something of abstraction in her manner. A silence, embarrassing in some degree to both parties, followed, which was broken by an allusion of Mrs. Appleton’s to Louisa Graham.

To this, Maria made no answer.

“Louisa is a girl of kind feelings,” remarked Mrs. Appleton.

“She is so esteemed,” Maria replied, somewhat coldly.

“Do you not think so, Maria?”

“Why should I think otherwise?”

“I am sure I cannot tell; but I thought there was something in your manner that seemed to indicate a different sentiment.”

To this the young lady made no reply, and Mrs. Appleton did not feel at liberty to press the subject, more particularly as she wished to induce Louisa, if she could possibly do so, to sacrifice her feelings and go to Maria with an inquiry as to the cause of her changed manner. She now observed closely the manner of Maria, and saw that she studiously avoided coming into contact with Louisa. Thus the evening passed away, and the two young ladies retired without having once spoken to each other.