Charlotte Smith

“ Gabrielle appeared to shudder with terror, and to wonder how her mother could speak with so much firmness, of what she had seen and suffered, even at this distance of time.—D'Alonville thought it want of consideration in Madame de Touranges to dwell so minutely on such descriptions before her daughter, whose health was visibly affected by the sad recollection.—He sat down near her, and began with her some conversation on topics less melancholy:—he mentioned her young friend, who was indeed the subject most immediately in his mind. "Is she not a very charming girl?" ”

“ Madame de Touranges, though she had no longer any claim to the attraction of youth and beauty, was one of those women, who, from being long accustomed to adulation, expect it equally every where—and believe that the influence of superior understanding ought to continue to them the ascendancy which time may have diminished, in robbing them of their personal charms. ”

“ Soon after Ellesmere joined them, and yet it did not become more general for some time; the younger Madame de Touranges (whom for distinction sake we must henceforth call Gabrielle,) being accustomed to let her mother-in-law, for whom she felt an awe almost approaching to fear, take the lead in all companies. Ellesmere was engaged in listening to her; and the eyes and thought of D'Alonville were entirely engrossed by the young stranger. He suffered Ellesmere to say what he would of his projects and intentions ”