Mr Milksan, being of a timorous
disposition, truckled to the insolence of a termagant. Mr
Sowerby, who was of a temper neither to be moved by fits, nor
driven by menaces, had the fortune to be fitted with a helpmate,
who assailed him with the weapons of irony and satire; sometimes
sneering in the way of compliment; sometimes throwing out
sarcastic comparisons, implying reproaches upon his want of
taste, spirit, and generosity: by which means she stimulated his
passions from one act of extravagance to another, just as the
circumstances of her vanity required.
All these three ladies have at this time the same number of
horses, carriages, and servants in and out of livery; the same
variety of dress; the same quantity of plate and china; the like
ornaments in furniture: and in their entertainments they
endeavour to exceed one another in the variety, delicacy, and
expence of their dishes. I believe it will be found upon enquiry,
that nineteen out of twenty, who are ruined by extravagance, fall
a sacrifice to the ridiculous pride and vanity of silly women,
whose parts are held in contempt by the very men whom they
pillage and enslave. Thank heaven, Dick, that among all the
follies and weaknesses of human nature, I have not yet fallen
into that of matrimony.
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