but it was too much to endure in Isabella—dark hair, eyes, and skin—yet Isabella was pretty, and promised to be still prettier; those large and penetrating orbs were full of fire and expression, and the slight form and regular features only required a little rounding and filling up for positive beauty. Yet, from being in a different style to what constituted the family-standard of loveliness, the idea had never crossed Isabella's mind; she was accustomed to be considered the plain one, and to that she quietly submitted. Still she had her moments of mortification. Coming immediately after Georgiana, whose cherub beauty was quite remarkable, she was perpetually subjected to the contrast, and that in a family where personal attractions were considered every thing; but in her the evil wrought for good; she became anxious to find some means of supplying her deficiency. Gradually the question arose, whether personal charms were quite worthy the value set upon them, and whether the sole object in existence was to be well married during your first season.
Once set a strong mind thinking, and you have done all that it needs for its education. It matters little what is the first impetus, so that it only be set to work. Isabella soon acquired the habit of reflection and comparison. She was the first to see how all real comfort in their house was sacrificed to some vain show, and that life had duties to fulfil, that were "unnamed, unknown" in their circle.
