Evelina [with Biographical Introduction]

by Frances Burney

he was dressed in a very showy manner, but without any taste; and the inelegant smartness of his air and deportment, his visible struggle against education to put on the fine gentleman, added to his frequent conscious glances at a dress to which he was but little accustomed, very effectually destroyed his aim of figuring, and rendered all his efforts useless.

This. This is the shade in this book. It’s killing me it’s so good

but I desire not to see any more of the world! the few months I have already passed in it, have sufficed to give me a disgust even to its name.