s absolute solitude, necessitated from her birth by the
apparent feebleness of her constitution, had been carefully maintained
by Beauvouloir.

As Gabrielle grew up, such constant care and the purity of the
atmosphere had gradually strengthened her fragile youth. Still, the wise
physician did not deceive himself when he saw the pearly tints around
his daughter's eyes soften or darken or flush according to the emotions
that overcame her; the weakness of the body and the strength of the soul
were made plain to him in that one indication which his long experience
enabled him to understand. Besides this, Gabrielle's celestial beauty
made him fearful of attempts too common in times of violence and
sedition. Many reasons had thus induced the good father to deepen the
shadows and increase the solitude that surrounded his daughter, whose
excessive sensibility alarmed him; a passion, an assault, a shock of any
kind might wound her mortally. Though she seldom deserved blame, a mere
word of reproach overcame her; she kept it in the depths of her heart,
where it fostered a meditative melancholy; she would turn away weeping,
and wept long.

Thus the moral education of the young girl required no less care than
her physical education. The old physician had been compelled to cease
telling stories, such as all children love, to his daughter; the
impressions she received were too vivid. Wise through long practice, he
endeavored to develop her body in order to deaden the blows which a
soul so powerful gave to it. Gabrielle was all of life and love to her
father, his only heir, and never had he hesitated to procure for her
such things as might produce the results he aimed for. He carefully
removed from her knowledge books, pictures, music, all those creations
of art which awaken thought. Aided by his mother he interested Gabrielle
in manual exercises. Tapestry, sewing, lace-making, the culture of
flowers, household cares, the storage of fruits, in short, the most
material occupations of life, were the food given to the mind of this
charming creature. Beauvouloir brought her beautiful spinning-wheels,
finely-carved chests, rich carpets, pottery of Bernard de Palissy,
tables, prie-dieus, chairs beautifully wrought and covered with
precious stuffs, embroidered line and jewels. With an instinct given by
paternity, the old man always chose his presents among the works of that
fantastic order called arabesque, which, speaking neither to the
so