Nor could they say much more for Julia.  Perhaps, indeed, there is more equanimity in the pleasures of a very rich person, than in those of a very beautiful one:  but, oh dear, they are of such a mean sort!  Still, there is a good deal of impertinent comfort in money I do admit.  Life rolls on, upon such well oiled hinges!  The rich say, “Do this,” to people around them; and the people, “do it.”  But the Fairies had no sympathy with such an unnatural fault as the pride of wealth.  They saw Julia reclining in one of those “lumbering things” they so much despised:  and driving round the “dirty town” they so much disliked:  and along a park a great deal too smoky for their taste:  and they could not understand the haughty glance of self-satisfaction with which she looked out upon the walking crowds she passed, or the affected graciousness with which she smiled upon the few whom she condescended to recognize as acquaintances.  They thought her very naughty and very absurd for being conceited about such matters.  They followed her to her Milliner’s too, and there I assure you they had nearly betrayed their presence by the uncontrollable fits of laughter they fell into when she was trying on, or talking about, bonnets, head dresses, gowns, &c. with the affected Frenchwoman who showed them off.  Julia cared for nothing because it was pretty or tasteful, but chose every thing by its costliness and magnificence.  Of course the milliner assured her that every thing she took a fancy to from its rarity, was becoming; and then, oh dear! how the Fairies were amused! for poor Julia looked downright ugly in some of the things she selected, and still went away as self satisfied as ever, on the old grounds that the costume was so expensive that none of her acquaintance could get one like it.  This was still her chief comfort!  Euphrosyne actually shook her fist at her as she was going away, and she had the toothache for the rest of the day, and was extremely cross to her husband in consequence.  For, by the way, Julia had married—­and married a nobleman—­a man somewhat older than herself; but he and she had had a sort of mutual conviction that riches and rank go very well together, and so they married; and suited very well in this respect, that as their heads were full of other things they neither claimed nor required from each other a great amount of affection.

Still, was Julia happy?  The Fairies shook their heads.  She had gardens, hot-houses, magnificent collections of curiosities, treasures that might have softened and opened her heart, if she had made a right use of them.  But riches have a very hardening tendency, and she never struggled against it.

Then, too, she could get every thing she wanted so easily, that she cared very little about anything.  Life becomes very stale when your hands are full and you have nothing to ask for.

Her greatest pleasure was to create astonishment and envy among her associates:  but, besides the naughtiness of the feeling, this is a triumph of very short duration; for most people, when they cannot get at what they envy, amuse themselves with something else; and then, what a mortification to see them do this!