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wretched life。 I could not go on with my task if it were not for
the refreshing calm of Marie's companionship。 It would be
impossible to find a disposition forming a happier contrast to my
own。 In my perpetual irritability of body and mind； she is a
providential resource that never fails me。〃 （13）
M。 Guizot was； in like manner； sustained and encouraged； amidst
his many vicissitudes and disappointments； by his noble wife。 If
he was treated with harshness by his political enemies； his
consolation was in the tender affection which filled his home with
sunshine。 Though his public life was bracing and stimulating； he
felt； nevertheless； that it was cold and calculating； and neither
filled the soul nor elevated the character。 〃Man longs for a
happiness；〃 he says in his 'Memoires；' more complete and more
tender than that which all the labours and triumphs of active
exertion and public importance can bestow。 What I know to…day； at
the end of my race； I have felt when it began； and during its
continuance。 Even in the midst of great undertakings； domestic
affections form the basis of life； and the most brilliant career
has only superficial and incomplete enjoyments； if a stranger to
the happy ties of family and friendship。〃
The circumstances connected with M。 Guizot's courtship and
marriage are curious and interesting。 While a young man living by
his pen in Paris； writing books； reviews； and translations； he
formed a casual acquaintance with Mademoiselle Pauline de Meulan；
a lady of great ability； then editor of the PUBLICISTE。 A severe
domestic calamity having befallen her； she fell ill； and was
unable for a time to carry on the heavy literary work connected
with her journal。 At this juncture a letter without any signature
reached her one day； offering a supply of articles； which the
writer hoped would be worthy of the reputation of the PUBLICISTE。
The articles duly arrived； were accepted； and published。 They
dealt with a great variety of subjectsart； literature；
theatricals； and general criticism。 When the editor at length
recovered from her illness； the writer of the articles disclosed
himself： it was M。 Guizot。 An intimacy sprang up between them；
which ripened into mutual affection； and before long Mademoiselle
de Meulan became his wife。
From that time forward； she shared in all her husband's joys and
sorrows； as well as in many of his labours。 Before they became
united； he asked her if she thought she should ever become
dismayed at the vicissitudes of his destiny； which he then saw
looming before him。 She replied that he might assure himself that
she would always passionately enjoy his triumphs； but never heave
a sigh over his defeats。 When M。 Guizot became first minister of
Louis Philippe； she wrote to a friend： 〃I now see my husband much
less than I desire； but still I see him。。。。 If God spares us to
each other； I shall always be； in the midst of every trial and
apprehension； the happiest of beings。〃 Little more than six
months after these words were written； the devoted wife was laid
in her grave； and her sorrowing husband was left thenceforth to
tread the journey of life alone。
Burke was especially happy in his union with Miss Nugent； a
beautiful； affectionate； and highminded woman。 The agitation
and anxiety of his public life was more than compensated
by his domestic happiness； which seems to have been complete。
It was a saying of Burke； thoroughly illustrative of his
character； that 〃to love the little platoon we belong to
in society is the germ of all public affections。〃 His
description of his wife； in her youth； is probably one
of the finest word…portraits in the language：
〃She is handsome； but it is a beauty not arising from features；
from complexion； or from shape。 She has all three in a high
degree； but it is not by these she touches the heart； it is all
that sweetness of temper； benevolence； innocence； and sensibility；
which a face can express； that forms her beauty。 She has a face
that just raises your attention at first sight； it grows on you
every moment； and you wonder it did no more than raise your
attention at first。
〃Her eyes have a mild light； but they awe when she pleases；
they command； like a good man out of office； not by authority；
but by virtue。
〃Her stature is not tall； she is not made to be the admiration
of everybody； but the happiness of one。
〃She has all the firmness that does not exclude delicacy；
she has all the softness that does not imply weakness。
〃Her voice is a soft low musicnot formed to rule in public
assemblies； but to charm those who can distinguish a company
from a crowd； it has this advantageYOU MUST COME CLOSE TO
HER TO HEAR IT。
〃To describe her body describes her mindone is the transcript
of the other； her understanding is not shown in the variety
of matters it exerts itself on； but in the goodness of the
choice she makes。
〃She does not display it so much in saying or doing striking
things； as in avoiding such as she ought not to say or do。
〃No person of so few years can know the world better； no person
was ever less corrupted by the knowledge of it。
〃Her politeness flows rather from a natural disposition to oblige；
than from any rules on that subject； and therefore never fails to
strike those who understand good breeding and those who do not。
〃She has a steady and firm mind； which takes no more from the
solidity of the female character than the solidity of marble does
from its polish and lustre。 She has such virtues as make us value
the truly great of our own sex。 She has all the winning graces
that make us love even the faults we see in the weak and
beautiful； in hers。〃
Let us give； as a companion picture； the not less beautiful
delineation of a husband； that of Colonel Hutchinson； the
Commonwealth man； by his widow。 Shortly before his death；
he enjoined her 〃not to grieve at the common rate of desolate
women。〃 And； faithful to his injunction； instead of lamenting
his loss； she indulged her noble sorrow in depicting her husband
as he had lived。
〃They who dote on mortal excellences；〃 she says； in her
Introduction to the 'Life；' 〃when； by the inevitable fate of all
things frail； their adored idols are taken from them； may let
loose the winds of passion to bring in a flood of sorrow； whose
ebbing tides carry away the dear memory of what they have lost；
and when comfort is essayed to such mourners； commonly all objects
are removed out of their view which may with their remembrance
renew the grief； and in time these remedies succeed； and
oblivion's curtain is by degrees drawn over the dead face； and
things less lovely are liked； while they are not viewed together
with that which was most excellent。 But I； that am under a
command not to grieve at the common rate of desolate women； （14）
while I am studying which way to moderate my woe； and if it were
possible to a