Yet was this admirable creature mistress of all these domestic qualifications, without the least intermixture of narrowness.  She knew how to distinguish between frugality, a necessary virtue, and niggardliness, an odious vice; and used to say, ’That to define generosity, it must be called the happy medium betwixt parsimony and profusion.’

She was the most graceful reader I ever knew.  She added, by her melodious voice, graces to those she found in the parts of books she read out to her friends; and gave grace and significance to others where they were not.  She had no tone, no whine.  Her accent was always admirably placed.  The emphasis she always forcibly laid as the subject required.  No buskin elevation, no tragedy pomp, could mislead her; and yet poetry was poetry indeed, when she read it.

But if her voice was melodious when she read, it was all harmony when she sung.  And the delight she gave by that, and by her skill and great compass, was heightened by the ease and gracefulness of her air and manner, and by the alacrity with which she obliged.

Nevertheless she generally chose rather to hear others sing or play, than either to play or sing herself.

She delighted to give praise where deserved; yet she always bestowed it in such a manner as gave not the least suspicion that she laid out for a return of it to herself, though so universally allowed to be her due.

She had a talent of saying uncommon things in such an easy manner that every body thought they could have said the same; and which yet required both genius and observation to say them.

Even severe things appeared gentle, though they lost not their force, from the sweetness of her air and utterance, and the apparent benevolence of her purpose.

We form the truest judgment of persons by their behaviour on the most familiar occasions.  I will give an instance or two of the correction she favoured me with on such a one.

When very young, I was guilty of the fault of those who want to be courted to sing.  She cured me of it, at the first of our happy intimacy, by her own example; and by the following correctives, occasionally, yet privately enforced: 

’Well, my dear, shall we take you at your word?  Shall we suppose, that you sing but indifferently?  Is not, however, the act of obliging, (the company so worthy!) preferable to the talent of singing?  And shall not young ladies endeavour to make up for their defects in one part of education, by their excellence in another?’

Again, ’You must convince us, by attempting to sing, that you cannot sing; and then we will rid you, not only of present, but of future importunity.’—­An indulgence, however, let me add, that but tolerable singers do not always wish to meet with.

Again, ’I know you will favour us by and by; and what do you by your excuses but raise our expectations, and enhance your own difficulties?’