222 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, xv 



embalmed and brought here and buried on Tuesday, the 

 whole town following as mourners. I never knew a mind 

 so rich, a conversation so inexhaustible, a person so full of 

 anecdote, of which he never repeated, not indeed enough 

 to please my taste. I like a twice-told tale very much. 

 The ranks of those I love thin most rapidly here, and there 

 are none rising to fill their places. We are in great anxiety 

 for Mme de StaeTs 1 little one; it is dangerously ill. I saw 

 her a short time before she set out for Broglie, hanging so 

 fondly over it, saying it was more than life to her, laying 

 before us all her plans for his education and happiness. She 

 appeared to me so amiable, so sensible, I envied her for 

 Caroline [Drewe] since she had come so near her for her 

 daughter-in-law. The child had fallen downstairs and 

 though he was not hurt at all, she had been long unwell 

 from terror. I feel so interested for her I cannot help 

 mingling her in my prayers for those I love, in this cruel 

 trial. Harriet [Surtees] received a letter from Fanny Mac- 

 kintosh from Broglie. I admire Fanny M.'s letters very 

 much, they are simple, very sensible, very affectionate, and 

 agreeable from a constant appearance of good and right 

 feeling in them. She and her father were also without 

 letters from Kitty, 2 so that I cannot guess what is become 

 of her. I think she must be on the road. . . . 



I think Harriet much improved in looks since she has 

 been here, her oldness begins to wear off a little. It might 

 perhaps have been a good deal owing to the journey, for 

 nothing gives so worn a look as travelling. During my ill 

 health, it was often a pleasure to me to feel myself the 

 weakest part of the chain. I have lost that pleasure now, 

 but in revenge I have such a feeling of well-being, of gaiety, 

 youth, health, &c. I cannot regret it: I can regret nothing. 

 I have not had such feelings since long before I left Cresselly 

 for the first time. Harriet is so associated with the merri- 



1 The daughter-in-law of the famous Mme de Stael. Edward 

 Drewe had been attracted by her, as Mile Vernet before her mar- 

 riage, during his long stay in Geneva (1826-7). 



2 Lady Mackintosh was much out of health and was coming to 

 stay with Mme de Sismondi. 



