y and authoritative
forms of virtue, wisdom, and piety. The former personally enchanted
and captivated all; the latter caused all to bow, with herself,
before a common sovereignty. The one was the fairest model of nature;
the other, a representative of supernatural realities, a holy symbol
of God.

It is extremely interesting to trace the effect of these remarkable
personalities on each other. When Madame Swetchine visited Rome, at
the age of forty-two, her mind was somewhat imbued with prejudices
against Madame Recamier, whom she had never seen, and who was then
tarrying there. Madame Recamier was forty-seven years old, with a
reputation unsullied by a breath, and a beauty which was remarkable
even twenty years afterwards. The manner in which Madame Swetchine
speaks of her, in a letter to Madame de Montcalm, forms the least
satisfactory passage we remember in all her correspondence:

"Madame Recamier seems sincerely to prefer a secluded life. It is
fortunate, her beauty and celebrity being on the decline: ruins make
little sensation in a country of ruins. It seems that to be drawn to
her one must know her more; and, after such brilliant successes,
certainly nothing can be more flattering than to reckon almost as
many friends as formerly lovers. Perhaps, however, not that I would
detract from her merit, had she but once loved--the number would
have been sensibly diminished."

It is charming to see, in the rich, eloquent letter which Madame
Swetchine wrote to Madame Recamier, soon after their first interview,
how quickly these prejudices were dispelled on personal contact, and
replaced by an earnest attachment:

"I have yielded to the penetrating, indefinable charm with which you
enthrall even those for whom you do not yourself care. It seems as if
we had passed a long time together, and had many memories in common.
This would be inexplicable, did not certain sentiments have a little
of eternity in them. One should say, that, when souls touch, they put
off all the poor conditions of earth; and, happier and freer, already
obey the laws of a better world."

The reciprocation of this interest is shown by the fact, that Madame
Recamier urgently besought Madame Swetchine to make her residence in
the same house with her, the Abbaye-aux-Bois; which she would
probably have done, had it not been for the objections of General
Swetchine.

The open secret of the wonderful influence which Madame Swetchine
exerted on all who