This day she was continually thinking of Ann’s recovery, and encouraging the cheerful hopes, which though they dissipated the spirits that had been condensed by melancholy, yet made her wish to be silent.  The music, more than the conversation, disturbed her reflections; but not at first.  The gentleman who played on the german-flute, was a handsome, well-bred, sensible man; and his observations, if not original, were pertinent.

The other, who had not said much, began to touch the violin, and played a little Scotch ballad; he brought such a thrilling sound out of the instrument, that Mary started, and looking at him with more attention than she had done before, and saw, in a face rather ugly, strong lines of genius.  His manners were awkward, that kind of awkwardness which is often found in literary men:  he seemed a thinker, and delivered his opinions in elegant expressions, and musical tones of voice.

When the concert was over, they all retired to their apartments.  Mary always slept with Ann, as she was subject to terrifying dreams; and frequently in the night was obliged to be supported, to avoid suffocation.  They chatted about their new acquaintance in their own apartment, and, with respect to the gentlemen, differed in opinion.

CHAP.  X.

Every day almost they saw their new acquaintance; and civility produced intimacy.  Mary sometimes left her friend with them; while she indulged herself in viewing new modes of life, and searching out the causes which produced them.  She had a metaphysical turn, which inclined her to reflect on every object that passed by her; and her mind was not like a mirror, which receives every floating image, but does not retain them:  she had not any prejudices, for every opinion was examined before it was adopted.

The Roman Catholic ceremonies attracted her attention, and gave rise to conversations when they all met; and one of the gentlemen continually introduced deistical notions, when he ridiculed the pageantry they all were surprised at observing.  Mary thought of both the subjects, the Romish tenets, and the deistical doubts; and though not a sceptic, thought it right to examine the evidence on which her faith was built.  She read Butler’s Analogy, and some other authors:  and these researches made her a christian from conviction, and she learned charity, particularly with respect to sectaries; saw that apparently good and solid arguments might take their rise from different points of view; and she rejoiced to find that those she should not concur with had some reason on their side.

CHAP.  XI.

When I mentioned the three ladies, I said they were fashionable women; and it was all the praise, as a faithful historian, I could bestow on them; the only thing in which they were consistent.  I forgot to mention that they were all of one family, a mother, her daughter, and niece.  The daughter was sent by her physician, to avoid a northerly winter; the mother, her niece, and nephew, accompanied her.