148 LIFE OF AUDUBON. 



invited me, but I did not, because I have been two successive 

 Saturdays, and I am afraid of intruding, altbough the rude 

 awkwardness I formerly felt has worn nearly smooth. 



" September 22. This was the grand day appointed by Baron 

 Cuvier for reading his report on my work at the French 

 Institute. The French Institute ! Shall I call it superior to 

 the Eoyal Academy of London ? I cannot better answer the 

 interrogation, than by the reports of the presidents of these 

 institutions on my work. By particular invitation of the Baron, 

 I was at the Institute at half-past one, and no Baron there. 

 I sat opposite the clock, and counted the minutes one after 

 another ; but the clock, insensible to my impatience, moved 

 regularly, and ticked its time just as if Audubon had never 

 existed. I undertook to count the numerous volumes which 

 filled the compartments of the library, but my eye became 

 bewildered, and as it reached the distant centre of the hall, 

 rested on the figure of Voltaire! Poor Voltaire! had he not 

 his own share of troubles? how was he treated? Savants 

 like shadows passed before me, nodded, and proceeded to their 

 seats, and resting their heads on their hands, looked for more 

 knowledge in different memoirs. I, Lucy, began journeying to 

 America, sailed up its rivers, across its lakes, . along its coasts, 

 and up the Mississippi, until I reached Bayou Sara, and leap- 

 ing on shore, and traversing the magnolia forests, bounded 

 towards thee, my dearest friend, — when the clock struck, and 

 suddenly called me to myself in the Eoyal Institute, patiently 

 waiting for the Baron. 



"The number of savants increased, and my watch and the 

 clock told that the day was waning. I took a book and read, 

 but it went into my mind and left no impression. The savants 

 increased more and more, and by-and-by among them my quick 

 eye discerns the Baron. I had been asked fifty times if I were 

 waiting for him, and had been ad-»sed to go to his house ; hut 

 I sat and watched like a sentinel at his post. I heard his 

 voice and his footstep, and at last saw him, warm, apparently 

 fatigued, and yet extremely kindly, coming towards me, with 

 a ' My dear sir, I am sorry to know that you have waited so 

 long here ; I was in my cabinet ; come with me.' During all 

 this talk, to which I bowed, and followed him, his hand was 



