Life of Count Rumford. 271 



entertainment were thronged, would really have suffered 

 had it not been for an adventure, which the daughter 

 relates so naively with an intimation that it might 

 have resulted in furnishing her with a step-mother 

 that it must be given in her own words. 



"A lady, before whose door stood one of -our carriages, took 

 pity on us, coming kindly to invite us in, and, my father being 

 returned at the time, we gladly accepted. We were shown 

 into cool, delightfully clean rooms, a little darkened (it being 

 in the month of August the heat was intense), and where we 

 found sofas, easy-chairs, and plenty of places to lounge in. So 

 great was the change from what we had before experienced, it 

 could be compared to nothing but heaven upon earth. After 

 being somewhat rested and recovered, then came refreshments 

 of everything proper, good, and enough of it. Aichner and 

 my maid had likewise all things of a nature to comfort them, 

 and when nothing else remained to be done we were requested 

 to take repose ; but as our horses, to the number of five, con- 

 trary to the post-master's wishes, were to be at the door at a 

 certain time we could not comply. My father introduced him- 

 self to the lady, and the lady herself to him. She, it seemed, 

 was the widow of a German officer, whom, by reputation, my 

 father knew well, and this leading to conversation, they got 

 on charmingly. Both were well looking, of proper ages, she 

 the younger, he not old. Any one in the habit of match- 

 making, so called, would have declared them made for each 

 other. Understanding I was my father's daughter, she made 

 much of me ; and I, far from having forgotten my poor mother, 

 seeing her kindly affected to me, and drawing myself nearer 

 and nearer to her, seemed to be in her arms before we were 

 either of us aware of it, both of us shedding tears plentifully. 

 It came out that she, about a year before, had lost an only 

 daughter, whom she thought about my age. She was the per- 

 fect mother. My father began to make a 'motion to go ; was, 

 perhaps, not satisfied ; would have preferred seeing the lady 

 looking out for a second husband. When we took leave my 



