6. This abominable endeavour to suppressor lessen every thing that is praise-worthy, is as frequent among the men as women. If I can remember what passed at a visit last night, it will serve as an instance that the sexes are equally inclined to defamation, with equal malice, with equal impotence.
7. _Jack Triplett_ came into my Lady _Airy_'s about eight of the clock. You know the manner we sit at a visit, and I need not describe the circle; but Mr. _Triplett_ came in, introduced by two tapers supported by a spruce servant, whose hair is under a cap till my lady's candles are all lighted up, and the hour of ceremony begins.
8. I say _Jack Triplett_ came in, and singing (for he is really good company) 'Every feature, charming creature,'--he went on. It is a most unreasonable thing that people cannot go peaceably to see their friends, but these murderers are let loose.
9. Such a shape! such an air! what a glance was that as her chariot passed by mine!--My lady herself interrupted him: Pray, who is this fine thing?--I warrant, says another, 'tis the creature I was telling your ladyship of just now.
10. You were telling of? says _Jack_; I wish I had been so happy as to have come in and heard you, for I have not words to say what she is: but if an agreeable height, a modest air, a virgin shame, and impatience of being beheld, amidst a blaze of ten thousand charms--The whole room flew out--Oh, Mr. _Triplett_! When Mrs. _Lofty_, a known prude, said she believed she knew whom the gentleman meant; but she was, indeed, as he civilly represented her, impatient of being beheld. Then turning to the lady next her--The most unbred creature you ever saw.
11. Another pursued the discourse:--As unbred, madam, as you may think her, she is extremely belied if she is the novice she appears; she was last week at a ball till two in the morning: Mr. _Triplett_ knows whether he was the happy man that took care of her home; but--This was followed by some particular exception that each woman in the room made to some peculiar grace or advantage; so that Mr. _Triplett_ was beaten from one limb and feature to another, till he was forced to resign the whole woman.
12. In the end, I took notice _Triplett_ recorded all this malice in his heart; and saw in his countenance, and a certain waggish shrug, that he designed to repeat the conversation: I therefore let the discourse die, and soon after took an occasion to commend a certain gentleman of my acquaintance for a person of singular modesty, courage, integrity, and withal, as a man of an entertaining conversation, to which advantages he had a shape and manner peculiarly graceful.