Pagina 44 de 817

Her performance was pleasing, though by no means capital. After a

song or two, and before she could reply to the entreaties of

several that she would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded at

the instrument by her sister Mary, who having, in consequence of

being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowledge

and accomplishments, was always impatient for display.

Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given

her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and

conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of

excellence than she had reached. Elizabeth, easy and unaffected,

had been listened to with much more pleasure, though not playing

half so well; and Mary, at the end of a long concerto, was glad

to purchase praise and gratitude by Scotch and Irish airs, at the

request of her younger sisters, who with some of the Lucases, and

two or three officers, joined eagerly in dancing at one end of

the room.