propriety herself. She held in abhorrence all
levity, all flirtation, all coquetry,—small
vices which often ruin domestic happiness, but which
a giddy nature incurs without consideration. But
she did not think it right to love a husband over
much. She left a surplus of affection, for all
her relations, all her friends, some of her acquaintances,
and the possibility of a second marriage, should any
accident happen to Mr. M. She kept a good table, for
it suited their station; and her temper was considered
even, though firm; but she could say a sharp thing
or two, if Mr. Mervale was not punctual to a moment.
She was very particular that he should change his
shoes on coming home,—the carpets were
new and expensive. She was not sulky, nor passionate,—Heaven
bless her for that!—but when displeased
she showed it, administered a dignified rebuke, alluded
to her own virtues, to her uncle who was an admiral,
and to the thirty thousand pounds which she had brought
to the object of her choice. But as Mr. Mervale
was a good-humoured man, owned his faults, and subscribed
to her excellence, the displeasure was soon over.
Every household has its little disagreements, none
fewer than that of Mr. and Mrs. Mervale. Mrs.
Mervale, without being improperly fond of dress, paid
due attention to it. She was never seen out of
her chamber with papers in her hair, nor in that worst
of dis-illusions,—a morning wrapper.
At half-past eight every morning Mrs. Mervale was dressed
for the day,—that is, till she re-dressed
for dinner,—her stays well laced, her cap
prim, her gowns, winter and summer, of a thick, handsome
silk. Ladies at that time wore very short waists;
so did Mrs. Mervale. Her morning ornaments were
a thick, gold chain, to which was suspended a gold
watch,—none of those fragile dwarfs of mechanism
that look so pretty and go so ill, but a handsome
repeater which chronicled Father Time to a moment;
also a mosaic brooch; also a miniature of her uncle,
the admiral, set in a bracelet. For the evening
she had two handsome sets,—necklace, earrings,
and bracelets complete,—one of amethysts,
the other topazes. With these, her costume for
the most part was a gold-coloured satin and a turban,
in which last her picture had been taken. Mrs.
Mervale had an aquiline nose, good teeth, fair hair,
and light eyelashes, rather a high complexion, what
is generally called a fine bust; full cheeks; large
useful feet made for walking; large, white hands with
filbert nails, on which not a speck of dust had, even
in childhood, ever been known to a light. She
looked a little older than she really was; but that
might arise from a certain air of dignity and the
aforesaid aquiline nose. She generally wore short
mittens. She never read any poetry but Goldsmith’s
and Cowper’s. She was not amused by novels,
though she had no prejudice against them. She
liked a play and a pantomime, with a slight supper
afterwards. She did not like concerts nor operas.
At the beginning of the winter she selected some book
to read, and some piece of work to commence.
The two lasted her till the spring, when, though she
continued to work, she left off reading. Her
favourite study was history, which she read through
the medium of Dr. Goldsmith. Her favourite author
in the belles lettres was, of course, Dr. Johnson.
A worthier woman, or one more respected, was not to
be found, except in an epitaph!
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