She could read, and write, and dance, and
sing, and play upon the harpsichord, and smatter French, and take
a hand at whist and ombre; but even these accomplishments she
possessed by halves -- She excelled in nothing. Her conversation
was flat, her stile mean, and her expression embarrassed -- In a
word, her character was totally insipid. Her person was not
disagreeable; but there was nothing graceful in her address, nor
engaging in her manners; and she was so ill qualified to do the
honours of the house, that when she sat at the head of the table,
one was always looking for the mistress of the family in some
other place.
Baynard had flattered himself, that it would be no difficult
matter to mould such a subject after his own fashion, and that
she would chearfully enter into his views, which were wholly
turned to domestic happiness. He proposed to reside always in the
country, of which he was fond to a degree of enthusiasm; to
cultivate his estate, which was very improvable; to enjoy the
exercise of rural diversions; to maintain an intimacy of
correspondence with some friends that were settled in his
neighbourhood; to keep a comfortable house, without suffering his
expence to exceed the limits of his income; and to find pleasure
and employ merit for his wife in the management and avocations
of her own family -- This, however, was a visionary scheme, which
he never was able to realize.
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