overwork themselves, I warrant them! But it is time for me to go home, for I have enough to do; besides, I hate gossiping, and never talk of my neighbours." He spoke all this so fast, he would not give himself time to breathe; and kept his hand on the coach door the whole time, as if he was afraid it would drive away from him. When he ceased speaking, Cynthia applauded him for minding his own business, and not troubling himself about other people; on which he was going to begin again, but Valentine bid the coachman drive on, and so left him.
They went on for some time musing, without speaking one word; till at last Cynthia said she should be glad to know what they were all so thoughtful about, and fancied it would be no ill entertainment if every one of them were to tell their thoughts to the rest of the company. They all liked the proposal, and desired Cynthia to begin first.
She said she was considering, amongst the variety of shops she saw, how very few of them dealt in things which were really necessary to preserve life or health, and yet that those things which appeared most useless contributed to the general welfare; for whilst there was such a thing as property in the world, unless it could be equally distributed, those people who have little or no share of it must find out methods of getting what they want from those whose lot it is to have more than is necessary for them; and, except all the world was so generous as to be willing to part with what they think they have a right to, only for the pleasure of helping others, the way to obtain anything from them is to apply to their passions. As, for instance, when a woman of fashion goes home with her coach loaded with jewels and trinkets, which from custom she is brought to think she cannot do without,
