Page:Genlis - The Palace of Truth (1819).djvu/50

to answer with perfect sincerity, I conceived so much indignation and contempt for them, that I turned them all away; and, I must confess, I have not since found any more faithful, or more attached to me. I also lost much of my friendship for Zumio; I saw him as he was, and found he was equally deficient in taste and understanding; he often indulged himself in quibbles, and a play of words, which no longer amused me, and which I was astonished to think had ever given me pleasure. I discovered a thousand little defects in him, which I had never remarked before, and found, besides, he was extremely impertinent; he contradicted me continually, was seldom of my opinion, and spoke with a freedom and unpoliteness that were equally revoking.

As he still said, however, he had a friendship for me, I did not come to an absolute rapture with him; but I scolded or snapped at him continually, and he insolently replied, my pride was insupportable. I commanded him to be silent; he would shrug his shoulders, mock me, alternately show anger or vex-