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lon； and had taken for her one of those ardent attachments so characteristic of earnest and susceptible natures。 She confided to her all the secrets of her heart； she felt a double pleasure when her joys and her little troubles were shared with this sympathetic companion。 〃I had for her a passionate affection；〃 she says。 〃When I first saw her my whole soul was captivated。 I thought her one of those enchanting fairies who combine all the gifts of nature and of magic。 I loved her； or； rather； I idolized her。〃 So pure； so confiding； so far above reproach herself； she refuses to see the faults of one she loves so tenderly。 Her letters glow with exalted sentiment。 〃Adieu； my charming； my beautiful； my sweet friend；〃 she writes。 〃I embrace you。 I press you to my bosom； or； rather； to my soul； for it seems to me that no interval can separate yours from mine。〃
But the character of Mme。 de Marchais was evidently not equal to her fascination。 Her vanity was wounded by the success of her friend。 She took offense at a trifling incident that touched her self…love。 〃The great ladies have disgusted me with friendship；〃 she wrote； in reply to Mme。 Necker's efforts to repair the breach。 They returned to each other the letters so full of vows of eternal fidelity； and were friends no more。 Apparently without any fault of her own； Mme。 Necker was left with an illusion the less； and the world has another example to cite of the frail texture of feminine friendships。
She was not always； however； so unfortunate in her choice。 She found a more amiable and constant object for her affections in Mme。 d'Houdetot； a charming woman who； in spite of her errors； held a very warm place in the hearts of her cotemporaries。 We have met her before in the philosophical circles of La Chevrette； and in the beautiful promenades of the valley of Montmorency； where Rousseau offered her the incense of a passionate and poetic love。 She was facile and witty； graceful and gay； said wise and thoughtful things； wrote pleasant verses which were the exhalations of her own heart； and was the center of a limited though distinguished circle； but her chief attraction was the magic of a sunny temper and a loving spirit。 〃He only is unhappy who can neither love； nor work； nor die；〃 she writes。 Though more or less linked with the literary coteries of her time； Mme。 d'Houdetot seems to have been singularly free from the small vanities and vulgar ambitions so often met there。 She loved simple pleasures and the peaceful scenes of the country。 〃What more have we to desire when we can enjoy the pleasures of friendship and of nature？〃 she writes。 〃We may then pass lightly over the small troubles of life。〃 She counsels repose to her more restless friend； and her warm expressions of affection have always the ring of sincerity； which contrasts agreeably with the artificial tone of the time。 Mme。 d'Houdetot lived to a great age； preserving always her youthfulness of spirit and sweet serenity of temper； in spite of sharp domestic sorrows。 She took refuge from these in the life…long friendship of Saint…Lambert； for whom Mme。 Necker has usually a gracious message。 It is a curious commentary upon the manners of the age that one so rigid and severe should have chosen for her intimate companionship two women whose lives were so far removed from her own ideal of reserved decorum。 But she thought it best to ignore errors which her world did not regard as grave； if she was conscious of them at all。
One finds greater pleasure in recalling her ardent and romantic attachment to the granddaughter of the Marechale de Luxembourg； the lovely Amelie de Boufflers； Duchesse de Lauzun； whose pen… portrait she sketched so gracefully and so tenderly； whose gentle sweetness and shy delicacy； in the rather oppressive glare of her surroundings； suggest a modest wild flower astray among the pretentious beauties of the hothouse； and whose untimely death on the scaffold has left her fragrant memory entwined with a garland of cypress。 But we cannot dwell upon the intimate phases of this friendship； whose fine quality is shown in the few scattered leaves of a correspondence overflowing with the wealth of two rare though unequally gifted natures。
At a later period her husband's position in the ministry； and the pronounced opinions of her brilliant daughter； gave to the salon of Mme。 Necker a marked political and semi…revolutionary coloring。 Her inclinations always led her to literary diversions； rather than to the discussion of economic questions； but as Mme。 de Stael gradually took the scepter that was falling from her hand； she found it difficult to guide the conversation into its old channels。 Her pale； thoughtful face； her gentle manner； her soft and penetrating voice； all indicated an exquisitely feminine quality quite in unison with the spirit of urbanity and politeness that was even then going out of fashion。 Her quiet and earnest though interesting conversation was somewhat overshadowed by the impetuous eloquence of Mme。 de Stael； who gave the tone to every circle into which she came。 〃I am more and more convinced that I am not made for the great world；〃 she said to the Duchesse de Lauzun； with an accent of regret。 〃It is Germaine who should shine there and who should love it； for she possesses all the qualities which put her in a position to be at once feared and sought。〃
If she was allied to the past； however； by her tastes and her sympathies； she belonged to the future by her convictions； and her many…sided intellect touched upon every question of the day。 Profoundly religious herself； she was broadly tolerant； always delicate in health； she found time amid her numerous social duties to aid the poor and suffering； and to establish the hospital that still bears her name。 Her letters and literary records reveal a woman of liberal thought and fine insight； as well as scholarly tastes。 If she lacked a little in the facile graces of the French women； she had to an eminent degree the qualities of character that were far rarer in her age and sphere。 Though she was cold and reserved in manner； beneath the light snow which she brought from her native hills beat a heart of warm and tender； even passionate； impulses。 Devoted wife； loyal friend； careful mother； large…minded and large…souled woman； she stands conspicuous； in a period of lax domestic relations； for the virtues that grace the fireside as well as for the talents that shine in the salon。
But she was not exempt from the sorrows of a nature that exacts from life more than life can give； and finds its illusions vanish before the cold touch of experience。 She had her hours of darkness and of suffering。 Even the love that was the source of her keenest happiness was also the source of her sharpest griefs。 In the days of her husband's power she missed the exclusive attention she craved。 There were moments when she doubted the depth of his affection； and felt anew that her 〃eyes were wedded to eternal tears。〃 She could not see without pain his extreme devotion to her daughter； whose rich nature； so spontaneous； so original； so foreign to her own； gave rise to many anxieties and occasional antagonisms。 This touches