"And to continue a good action which you have commenced, it is necessary that you should find it productive of much pleasure to yourself?"
"No, mamma; but...."
—"But, my child, there are many persons like you in that respect; they commence a good work with delight, and afterwards abandon it because their success is not as complete as they had expected."
"You must see, mamma," said Cecilia, a little piqued, "that it was not for my own advantage that I wished to give lessons to Nanette."
"I believe, indeed, it was for hers, and that you had fully reflected on the advantage she would derive from them."
"Indeed, mamma, it is a very fine thing for a little peasant girl, who would have remained ignorant, vulgar, and illiterate all her life, to be well educated and accomplished, and to be able to become amiable and agreeable, and fitted to move in elevated society."
"Especially," said Madame de Vesac, smiling, "when she is destined to move in elevated society."
"Who knows, mamma? a good marriage," resumed Cecilia, with vivacity; for her imagination was always ready to rush into romantic ideas, because it is such ideas that require the least reflection.
"Have you seen many of these marriages?" asked her mother.