CHAPTER XV.
CURIOSITY.
THE curiosity of our sex is proverbial.

Proverbs are generally based upon experience, and this one, I am ready to admit, is not without a good foundation to rest upon.
Our sex are curious; at least I am, and we are very apt to judge others by ourselves.

I believe that I have never broken the seal nor peeped into a letter bearing the name of some other lady; but, then, I will own to having, on more occasions than one, felt an exceedingly strong desire to know the contents of certain epistles in the hands of certain of my friends.
The same feeling I have over and over again observed in my domestics, and, for this reason, have always been careful how I let my letters lie temptingly about.

One chamber maid in my service, seemed to have a passion for reading other people's letters.

More than once had I caught her rummaging in my drawers, or with some of my old letters in her hands; and I could not help remarking that most of the letters left at the door by the penny post, had, if they passed to me through her, a crumpled appearance.