With all these talents, what might not Leonora be in proper hands! But now she is nothing except to her husband, and a few intimate friends. However, this is not my affair. Let me go on to what concerns myself. You may believe, my dear Gabrielle, that I piqued myself upon showing at least as much easy indifference as was shown to me: freedom encourages freedom. As there was no danger of my being too amiable, I did not think myself bound in honour or sentiment to keep myself in the shade; but I could not be as brilliant as you have seen me at your _soirées_: the magic circle of adorers, the inspiring power of numbers, the éclat of public _representation_, were wanting. I retired to my own apartment at night, quite out of humour with myself; and Josephine, as she undressed me, put me still further out of patience, by an ill-timed history of a dispute she has had with Leonora’s Swiss servant. The Swiss and Josephine, it seems, came to high words in defence of their mistresses’ charms. Josephine provoked the Swiss by saying, that his lady might possibly be handsome if she were dressed in the French taste; _mais qu’elle étoit bien Angloise_, and would be quite another thing if she had been at Paris. The Swiss retorted by observing, that Josephine’s lady had indeed learnt in perfection at Paris _the art of making herself up_, which was quite necessary to a beauty _un peu passée_. The words were not more agreeable to me than they had been to Josephine. I wonder at her assurance in repeating them--“Un peu passée!” Many a woman in England, ten, fifteen years older than I am, has inspired a violent passion; and it has been observed, that power is retained by these mature charmers, longer than conquest can be preserved by inexperienced beauties. There are women who have learnt to combine, for their own advantage, and for that of their captives, all the pleasure and _conveniences_ of society, all that a thorough knowledge of the world can give--women who have a sufficient attention to appearances, joined to a real contempt of all prejudices, especially that of constancy--women who possess that knowledge of the human heart, which well compensates transient bloom; who add the expression of sentiment to beautiful features, and who employ “Gay smiles to comfort, April showers to move, And all the nature, all the art of Love.” --“Un peu passée!” The Swiss is impertinent, and knows nothing of the matter. His master knows but little more. He would, however, know infinitely more if I could take the trouble to instruct him; to which I am almost tempted for want of something better to do. Adieu, my Gabrielle. R----‘s silence is perfectly incomprehensible. OLIVIA. * * * * * LETTER XXX. OLIVIA TO MADAME DE P----.