28 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



was, that, being very ambitious, (he had refufed to 

 unite herfelf to any except a man of rank ; but, 

 ahhough (lie was very rich, and that, at Court, 

 every thing is a matter of indifference, fortune 

 excepted, yet no perfon was found, willing to form 

 an alliance with a woman, homely to the laft de- 

 gree, and, at the fame time,, poffefled of a mofl 

 unfeeling heart. 



She added, by way of poftfcript, that every thing 

 confidered, (lie had ftrongly recommended her to 

 M. de la Bonrdonaye : fhe had, indeed, recommend- 

 ed her, but, conformably to a cuftom but too pre- 

 valent at this day, which renders a proteftor more 

 to be dreaded than a declared enemy, in order to 

 juflify to the Governor, her feverity to her niece, 

 in feigning to pity, (he had calumniated her. 



Madame de la Tour, who could not be feen by 

 the moft indifferent perfon, without intercfl and 

 refpeâ:, was received with the greateft cool nefs by 

 M. dc la BQurdonayey already prejudiced againft 

 her* To the account which flie gave, of her own 

 lliuation, and that of her daughter, he anfwered 

 only by hardi monofyllables ; " I (hall enquire,"... 

 *' we (liall fee,"...." in time,"...." there are many 



" unhappy people," " why offend fo rcfpedable 



^* an aunt?"....** you are certainly to blame." 



Madame 



