"The season of youth, she would say," is the season of instruction;—and consequently every hour had its allotted task; and every action was directed according to some established regulation.
By these means, Sophia and Frances were already highly accomplished; their manners were formed; their opinions fixed, and any contradictions of those opinions, instead of raising doubt, or urging to enquiry, only excited in their minds astonishment at the hardihood and contempt for the folly which thus opposed itself to the final determination of the majority, and ventured to disturb the settled empire and hereditary right of their sentiments and manners.—"These are your pupils," Lady Margaret would often exultingly cry, addressing the mild Mrs. Seymour—"these paragons of propriety—these sober minded steady automatons. Well, I mean no harm to them or you. I only wish I could shake off a little of that cold formality which petri-
