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eless； that her powerful intellect bent before it like a reed before a storm。 She died of that unsuspected passion； and years afterwards these letters found the light and told the tale。
The contrast between the two women so closely linked together is complete。 Mme。 du Deffand belonged to the age of Voltaire by every fiber of her hard and cynical nature。 What she called love was a fire of the intellect which consumed without warming。 It was a violent and fierce prejudice in favor of those who reflected something of herself。 The tenderness of self…sacrifice was not there。 Mlle。 de Lespinasse was of the later era of Rousseau； the era of exaggerated feeling； of emotional delirium； of romantic dreams； the era whose heroine was the loving and sentimental 〃Julie；〃 for whose portrait she might have sat； with a shade or so less of intellect and brilliancy。 But it was more than a romantic dream that shadowed and shortened the life of Mlle。 de Lespinasse。 She had a veritable heart of flame； that consumed not only itself but its frail tenement as well。
Julie…Jeanne…Eleonore de Lespinasse； who was born at Lyons in 1732； had a birthright of sorrow。 Her mother； the Comtesse d'Albon； could not acknowledge this fugitive and nameless daughter； but after the death of her husband she received her on an inferior footing； had her carefully educated； and secretly gave her love and care。 Left alone and without resources at fifteen； Julie was taken； as governess and companion； into the family of a sister who was the wife of Mme。 du Deffand's brother。 Here the marquise met her on one of her visits and heard the story of her sorrows。 Tearful； sad； and worn out by humiliations； the young girl had decided to enter a convent。 〃There is no misfortune that I have not experienced；〃 she wrote to Guibert many years afterwards。 〃Some day； my friend； I will relate to you things not to be found in the romances of Prevost nor of Richardson 。 。 。 I ought naturally to devote myself to hating； I have well fulfilled my destiny； I have loved much and hated very little。 Mon Dieu； my friend； I am a hundred years old。〃 Mme。 du Deffand was struck with her talent and a certain indefinable fascination of manner which afterwards became so potent。 〃You have gaiety；〃 she wrote to her； 〃you are capable of sentiment； with these qualities you will be charming so long as you are natural and without pretension。〃 After a negotiation of some months； Mlle。 de Lespinasse went to Paris to live with her new friend。 The history of this affair has been already related。
Parisian society was divided into two factions on the merits of the quarrelthose who censured the ingratitude of the younger woman； and those who accused the marquise of cruelty and injustice。 But many of the oldest friends of the latter aided her rival。 The Marechale de Luxembourg furnished her apartments in the Rue de Belle…Chasse。 The Duc de Choiseul procured her a pension； and Mme。 Geoffrin gave her an annuity。 She carried with her a strong following of eminent men from the salon of Mme。 du Deffand； among whom was d'Alembert； who remained faithful and devoted to the end。 It is said that President Henault even offered to marry her； but how； under these circumstances； he managed to continue in the good graces of his lifelong friend； the unforgiving marquise； does not appear。 A letter which he wrote to Mlle。 de Lespinasse throws a direct light upon her character； after making due allowance for the exaggeration of French gallantry。
〃You are cosmopolitan； you adapt yourself to all situations。 The world pleases you； you love solitude。 Society amuses you； but it does not seduce you。 Your heart does not give itself easily。 Strong passions are necessary to you； and it is better so； for they will not return often。 Nature； in placing you in an ordinary position； has given you something to relieve it。 Your soul is noble and elevated； and you will never remain in a crowd。 It is the same with your person。 It is distinguished and attracts attention； without being beautiful。 There is something piquante about you 。 。 。 You have two things which do not often go together： you are sweet and strong； your gaiety adorns you and relaxes your nerves； which are too tense 。 。 。 You are extremely refined； you have divined the world。〃
The age of portraits was not quite passed； and the privilege of seeing one's self in the eyes of one's friends was still accorded； a fact to which we owe many striking if sometimes rather highly colored pictures。 A few words from d'Alembert are of twofold interest。 He writes some years later：
〃The regard one has for you does not depend alone upon your external charms； it depends； above all； upon your intellect and your character。 That which distinguishes you in society is the art of saying to every one the fitting word and that art is very simple with you； it consists in never speaking of yourself to others； and much of themselves。 It is an infallible means of pleasing； thus you please every one； though it happens that all the world pleases you； you know even how to avoid repelling those who are least agreeable。〃
This epitome of the art of pleasing may be commended for its wisdom； aside from the very delightful picture it gives of an amiable and attractive woman。 Again he writes：
〃The excellence of your tone would not be a distinction for one reared in a court； and speaking only the language she has learned。 In you it is a merit very real and very rare。 You have brought it from the seclusion of a province； where you met no one who could teach you。 You were； in this regard； as perfect the day after your arrival at Paris as you are today。 You found yourself； from the first； as free； as little out of place in the most brilliant and most critical society as if you had passed your life there； you have felt its usages before knowing them； which implies a justness and fineness of tact very unusual； an exquisite knowledge of les convenances。〃
It was her innate tact and social instinct； combined with rare gifts of intellect and great conversational charm； that gave this woman without name； beauty； or fortune so exceptional a position； and her salon so distinguished a place among the brilliant centers of Paris。 As she was not rich and could not give costly dinners； she saw her friends daily from five to nine； in the interval between other engagements。 This society was her chief interest； and she rarely went out。 〃If she made an exception to this rule； all Paris was apprised of it in advance；〃 says Grimm。 The most illustrious men of the State； the Church； the Court； and the Army； as well as celebrated foreigners and men of letters； were sure to be found there。 〃Nowhere was conversation more lively； more brilliant； or better regulated；〃 writes Marmontel。 。 。 〃It was not with fashionable nonsense and vanity that every day during four hours； without languor or pause； she knew how to make herself interesting to a circle of sensible people。〃 Caraccioli went from her salon one evening to sup with Mme。 du Deffand。 〃He was intoxicated with all the fine works he had heard read there；〃 writes the latter。 〃There was a eulogy of one named Fontaine by M。 de Condorcet。