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But their presence has probably a mixed effect: I mean, not only

is the very seeing friends pleasant, especially to one in

misfortune, and actual help towards lessening the grief is

afforded (the natural tendency of a friend, if he is gifted with

tact, being to comfort by look and word, because he is well

acquainted with the sufferer's temper and disposition and

therefore knows what things give him pleasure and pain), but also

the perceiving a friend to be grieved at his misfortunes causes

the sufferer pain, because every one avoids being cause of pain

to his friends.