BARON CUVIER. 307 



to those who had known Clementine, the soirees 

 were stripped of one of their principal charms. 

 In vain did M. Cuvier exert himself more than 

 ever to welcome his guests ; vain was the con- 

 versation of his daughter-in-law, the most fas- 

 cinating and brilliant that perhaps ever fell 

 from the lips of w^oman 5 there sat the dejected 

 mother, evidently making an effort over herself, 

 her thoughts but too plainly in another sphere ; 

 and the cause of her abstraction was whispered 

 to strangers, with mournful looks and faltering 

 tongues, by those who had beheld the being that 

 had filled up the vacancy. With a violent effort, 

 that closed saloon was once more opened to M. 

 Cuvier's friends ; but it seemed to be only the 

 preparation for the dying breath of the parent. 

 That saloon is now always open, and the be- 

 reaved widow and her devoted child always in- 

 habit it, surrounded by the portraits of those 

 they loved, clinging to the shadows and recol- 

 lections of those that are gone, and living in the 

 past, as the sole source of their melancholy en- 

 joyment. 



After the death of his own daughter, M, Cu- 

 vier became, if possible, more than ever attached 

 to Mademoiselle Duvaucel. He had never made 

 any difference in his conduct towards her and 

 X 2 



