Moths by Ouida — page 57: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MOTHS, — 53 “On peut se debaucher, mais on doit se debaucher avee de Pesprit,” she would say; and the modern ways of vice seemed to her void of wit! ‘‘ You are not even amused,” she would add. ‘* If you were amused, one could comprehend; but you are not. You spend your fortunes on creatures that you do not even like; you spend your nights in gambling that does not even excite ou; you commit vulgarities that do not éven divert you, only ecause everybody else does the same; you caricature monstrous vices so that you make even thoseno longer terrible, but ridicu- lous; andif you fight a duel you manage to make it look absurd, you take a surgeon with you! You have no passions. It is pas- sion that dignifies life, and you do not know anything about it, any of you; you know only infamy. And infamy is always so dull; it is never educated. Why do you copy Vitellius? Because you have not the wit to be either Horace or Ceesar.” _But Sergius Zouroff did not pay any heed to his cleverer sister. His Uraline mines, his vast plains of wheat, his forests and farms, hissalt and his copper, and all that he owned, were treasures well-nigh inexhaustible, and although prodigal he was shrewd. He was not a man to be easily ruined, and, as long as his great wealth and his great position gave him a place that was almost royalin the society of Europe, he knew very well that he could copy Vitellius as he chose without drawing any chastisement on him. In a cold and heavy way he had talent, and with that talent he contrived to indulge all excesses in any vice that tempted him, yet remain without that social stigma that has marked before now princes wholly royal. ‘* Every where they are glad to see me,-and everybody would marry me to-morrow,” he would say, with a shrug of his shoul- ders, when his sister rebuked him. To Felicite drove Lady Dolly, with Vere by her side. Vere had been given a white dress and a broad hat with white drooping feathers; she looked very pale; her mother supposed it was with excitement. She thought it the moment to offer a little maternal advice. ** Now, dear, this will be quite going into the world for you. Da remember one or two things. Do try to look less grave; men hate a serious woman. And if youwant to ask anything, don’t come tome, because I’m always busy; ask Adrienne or Lady Stoat. You have seen what a sweet dear mother!y creature she is. She won’t mind telling youanything. Thess is a charming oirl there, too, an American heiress, Fuschia Leach; a horrible name, but alovely creature, and very clever. Watch her, and learn all you can fromher. Tout Paris lost its head after her utterly this last winter. She’ll marry anybody she chooses. Pray don’t make meashamed of you. Don’t besensational, don’t be stupid, don’t be pedantic; and, for mercy’s sake don’t make any scenes. Never look surprised; never show a dislike to any- body; never seem shocked, if you feel so. Be civil all round, it’s the safest way in society; and Bray don’t talk about mathe- matics and the Bible. I don’t know t non can tell you: you must find it ailoutfor yourself. The world is like ~ at there’s anything more! . Comicboo Bee S) : aT he