I thoguth you might be interested to see some pages from my copy of this book, which was, in effect, a conduct book for young women, in order to grasp its "tone".

I have selected a section on reading, and you might like to apply it to Miss Languish's habits ( and indeed the other Lydia we know so well,one Miss L Bennet)

Here is a translation of these two pages for you( to save your eyes;-)....) :

Sermon Vii

Having touched on this head, I will take leave to

remark by the way, that nothing, as I apprehend,

can be more erroneous than to begin the study of

what may be termed the Art of Reading with poet-ry

chiefly. For by the flow and harmony of the

numbers, a learner is carried insensibly into the

repetition of these musical tones, that chance to

seize the ear with particular de1ght ; from which

the voice, once got into the same strain, cannot

without a struggle persuade itself to break away;

a principle source of the evil of monotony, where

it has not been contracted by bad example, and where

the sense of an author is understood or attended to.

Where it is not, the proper emphasis cannot be ex-

pected.

Now to prevent or remedy this prevailing evil,

the most likely method, I conceive, would be to

begin with frequently reading aloud those produc-

tions in prose of which the style is plain and easy,

such as unadorned Narrative, short Stories, Fa-

miliar Epistles ; but principally those that approach

nearest to the language of conversation, such as

Dialogues, and the best Dramatic Writings ; mix-

ing for a considerable time nothing that is versified,

and endeavouring to support the voice with firmness

and simplicity, till you have formed a habit of so

doing. Then by slow and almost imperceptible pro-

gression, you should advance to what is more va-

ried, rhetorical, and raised ; such as Allegories,

Orations, Moral and Religious Discourses, and

Essays of the pathetic kind, together with the most

beautiful and elevated parts of Holy Writ ; keeping

to these, till your voice has acquired flexibility,

expression, and energy. After repeated and patient

efforts in this way, you may proceed with suc-

cess to reading and reciting pieces of poetry, in
different styles ; setting out with those where there
is least, and rising gradually to those where there
is most of the tender, the impassioned, and the
sublime. Need I add, that all this should he prac-
tised in the frequent hearing, and under the kind
animadversion, of an experienced judge?

But perhaps you think the practice too laborious
and troublesome. Do ye ? Go, thou trifler, and
be ashamed of thy folly.-To neglect the study of
thy native English, the skilful use of which, joined
to sentiment and knowledge, would render thy con-
versation charming; and yet contentedly to puzzle thy
silly head with learning a little imperfect French,
which it is a hundred to one if ever thou shalt
have occasion to use-how preposterous and futile!

To the language last named I am no enemy
I only blame its occupying so large a place in the
female education of this country. For women of
rank the fashion has made it necessary. But what
can be more ridiculous than to see our city girls,
not excepting the daughters of plain tradesmen
and honest mechanics, taught for years together,
at great expense, a smattering of that which soon
after they leave the boarding-school is generally
forgotten ;. while they are left ignorant of the supe-
rior beauties and just pronunciation of their mother-
tongue?

I mentioned the exercise of reciting verses
With relation to this, I would only say, that I do
not wish a young woman to indulge it in any com
pany, that is not very private and chosen indeed
how much soever it is to be desired, that she should
store her memory with some of the most select
sentiments, and striking descriptions, from the
best writers both in verse and prose..

Clearly Lydia does not approve these sentiments......