What story was ever more powerful in showing the beauty of feminine reticence, and the horrors of feminine evil-doing, than the fate of Effie Deans?
The Templar would have betrayed a woman to his lust, but has not encouraged others by the freedom of his life.

Varney was utterly bad,--but though a gay courtier, he has enticed no others to go the way that he went.

So it has been with Thackeray.

His examples have been generally of that kind,--but they have all been efficacious in their teaching on the side of modesty and manliness, truth and simplicity.

When some girl shall have traced from first to last the character of Beatrix, what, let us ask, will be the result on her mind?
Beatrix was born noble, clever, beautiful, with certain material advantages, which it was within her compass to improve by her nobility, wit, and beauty.