"Yes," said Mr. Percy, "and perhaps of some of their errors and vices.
It depends upon how it is governed, whether sensibility be a curse or a
blessing to its possessor, and to society."

"A curse!" cried Godfrey; "yes, if a woman be doomed--"

"Come, come, my dear Godfrey," interrupted Mr. Percy, "do not let us talk
any more upon the subject just now, because you are too much interested to
reason coolly."

Rosamond then took her turn to talk of what was uppermost in her
thoughts--Buckhurst Falconer, whom she alternately blamed and pitied,
accused and defended; sometimes rejoicing that Caroline had rejected his
suit, sometimes pitying him for his disappointment, and repeating that with
such talents, frankness, and generosity of disposition, it was much to be
regretted that he had not that rectitude of principle, and steadiness of
character, which alone could render him worthy of Caroline. Then passing
from compassion for the son to indignation against the father, she
observed, "that Commissioner Falconer seemed determined to counteract all
that was good in his son's disposition, that he actually did every thing in
his power to encourage Buckhurst in a taste for dissipation, as it seemed
on purpose to keep him in a state of dependence, and to enslave him to the
_great_.

"I hope, with all my heart, I hope," continued Rosamond, "that Buckhurst
will have sense and steadiness enough to refuse; but I heard his father
supporting that foolish Colonel Hauton's persuasions, and urging his poor
son to go with those people to Cheltenham. Now, if once he gets into that
extravagant, dissipated set, he will be ruined for ever!--Adieu to all