THE INDOLENT CORRECTED. 83

 

her music, her books and maps, were all torn, and
more had to be bought. She no longer cared for her
harp, but left it exposed to the damp in a room where
the windows were frequently open. ‘The strings
broke, and it had to be restrung. Her expenses were
more than six careful people’s would have been.

Her excessive indolence rendered unbearable to her
any sort of subjection. Through her carelessness the
furniture in her room was all destroyed, and had to
be renewed once a year. Her hats, nets, etc., were
to be found all scattered about the room, and the
carpet was covered with pins. Her dresses were all
spotted with grease and ink, and though she remained
a long time over her toilet, yet she never appeared
tastefully dressed. She gazed without seeing, acted
without thought, and showed in all she did neither
grace nor elegance. Never going to the trouble of
putting on her gloves, her hands had become coarse
and rude. Her gait was most awkward and disagree-
able, as she had always accustomed herself to wear
loose slippers.

Such was Eglantine at sixteen. Doralice was
pleased to buy for her a pretty library, in hopes that
she might acquire a taste for reading. In obedience
to her mother, Eglantine read for a while in the after-