relacquering had been the work of her own hands, she was willing to aver
had been the gifts of royal and princely personages. The books for which
she had herself written to the publishers, she would swear all tributes
offered by the respective writers to the throne of taste and erudition.
Every object with whose humble birth and origin she was familiar, was
associated in her mind with some curious history, which, got off by
rote, she repeated with full credulity. Like the well-known athlete, who
lifted a bull because he had accustomed himself to the feat since
the animal had been a calf, rising from small beginnings, she had so
educated her faculties that now nothing was above her powers. Not all
the straits and contrivances by which this motley display was got up,
not all the previous schemings and plottings, not all the discussions
as to what King or Kaiser this should be attributed, by what artist that
was painted, who carved this cup, who enamelled that vase, could shake
the firmness of her faith when the matter was once decided. She might
oppose the Bill in every stage; she might cavil at it in Committee, and
divide on every clause; but when it once became law, she revered it as
a statute of the land. All her own doubts faded away on the instant; all
her former suggestions vanished at once; a new light seemed to break
on her mind, and she appeared to see with the eyes of truth and
discernment. We have been led away beyond our intention in this sketch,
and have no space to devote to that temple wherein the mysteries were
celebrated. Enough if we say that it was small and ill-arranged, its
discomfort increased by the incongruous collection of rare and curious
objects by which it was filled. Stuffed lions stood in the hall; mock
men in armor guarded the entrance to the library; vast glass cases
of mineralogical wealth, botanical specimens, stuffed birds, impaled
butterflies, Indian weapons, Etrurian cups, Irish antiquities, Chinese
curiosities, covered the walls on every side. Not a specimen amongst
them that could not trace its presentation to some illustrious donor.
Miniatures of dear, dear friends everywhere; and what a catholic
friendship was that which included every one, from Lord Byron to
Chalmers, and took in the whole range of morals, from Mrs. Opie to Fanny
Elssler. Indeed, although the fair Zoe was a "rigid virtue," her love of
genius, her "mind-worship," as she called it, often led her into
strange intimacie