“I am an old sad woman; my _armure_ is crumbled from me. I play now only one part--in those times it was many. From Cupid to a _cuisinière_, I had the gift to make each character appear natural; to present it, nevairtheless, of the most charming grace. I was adored and adorable; but it was vanity. I would not exchange the present for the past. I could perform on seven, eight instruments, monsieur; I could dance to shame the unapproachable Vestris; I knew Corneille by heart; Mirabeau himself was not cleverer in organising a comedy for the living, than I for the artificial, stage. My _rôle_ was to promote the healthy condition of amiability, to teach people how to be happy though innocent. That _rôle_ yet remains to me; the rest is gone. When vanity has taught its lesson the pupil may become teacher. I leave since many years the theatre of emotions for the theatre of life. It would be good for some of your countrywomen to follow my example. When I sink of your Congreve, your Vanbrugh, and of the young ladies at Barse that listen wisout a blush, _eh bien, on peut espérer que l’habit ne fait pas le moine_!” “Faith, it’s horrible!” said Mr Sheridan; and he remembered how assiduously madame and her charges had frequented the theatres during their two months’ stay at that questionable watering-place before they came to Bury. “But the morals of ‘Belle Chasse’ have not penetrated to England,” says he, with a little roguish bow to the lady. Madame uttered a self-indulgent sigh. She looked round on the frippery of fancy-work--moss-baskets, appliqué embroidery, wax flowers, illustrations of science in the shape of tiny trees formed from lead precipitate, illustrations of art in the collections of little moony landscapes engraved on smoked cards, illustrations of practical mechanics in the binding of a sticky volume or so--that lay about the room. These were all so many evidences of her system--instruction in the pleasant gardens of manual toil. She was possessed of the little knowledge of a hundred little crafts. She could have written a ‘Girl’s Own Book’ without the help of one collaborator.