33^ MADAME GEOFPRIN-. 



to them ; and then let them talk away without inter- 

 ruption. Thus it happened once with the abbe Son'det- 

 Priere. This honen: gentleman was very apt at times 

 to be tirefome. Being on a vifit to Madame Geoffrm 

 early one winter's evening, ealily perceiving that fhe 

 was not likely foon to get rid of him, fhe led him to 

 talk on fuch fubje&s as he was confeffedly well verfed 

 In. On his taking leave, Madame GeofFrin faid to 

 him : cc Monf. l'abbe, you have been extremely enter- 

 taining to me to-day." — <c I was only the inftrument, 

 returned he, on which you have been playing in your 

 mafterly manner." 



In large companies fhe fpoke but little, contenting 

 herfelf with being a hearer. She would feldom run on 

 for a long time together, except when me related, or 

 when fhe wanted to difclofe, fome lively fentiment to 

 which the converfation had given rife. Her fubjecls 

 were commonly excellent delineations of the characters 

 of fuch perfons as fhe was acquainted with. They 

 were exhibited in fuch a lively and original manner, 

 that it was difficult to imitate. She faid of loquacious 

 people : cc I come pretty well to rights with them, when 

 they are mere talkers, who do nothing but babble, and 

 never look for any anfwer. My friend Fontenelle, 

 who, like me, is indulgent to them, fays, that they 

 give his bofom time to reft ; but to me they are of yet 

 another advantage : their infigniflcant clack is to me 

 like the ringing of bells, which does not prevent one 

 from thinking, and often invites one to it." Only 

 praters of great pretentions, who imagine that all the 

 world exifts for no other purpofe than to Iiften to them, 

 and to whom the neceffity of prating is become necef- 



fary 



