298 LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.

but so animated was her face that she appeared to con-verse with all. Her eyes followed the looks and move-ments of those who talked : it seemed as if she guessedtheir ideas before they were expressed. She enteredinto every subject ; even politics, which at this epochw r as one of the most engrossing topics of conversation.After dinner, a good deal of company arrived. Eachguest, as he approached madame Necker, addressedher daughter with some compliment or pleasantry : shereplied to all with ese and grace. They delighted to at-tack and embarrass her, and to excite her childish imagi-nation, which was already brilliant. The cleverest menwere those who took greatest pleasure in making her talk.They asked her what she was reading, recommendednew books, and gave her a taste for study by conversingconcerning what she knew, or on what she was ignorant.”

Thus this extraordinary woman imbibed, as it werewith her mother’s milk, a taste for society and display.She learnt to take intense pleasure in the communica-tion of ideas with intelligent men, and in sharing inthe sparkling wit that gathered round her. She en-joyed the excitement of spirits that results from the senseof expressing her thoughts, and at the same time hav-ing the sphere enlarged by the instant interchange withothers. The sensations of success in society, of praiseand reputation, were familiar to her in childhood, andno wonder they became as necessary as her daily breadin after years.

It was her mother’s plan to tax her intellects to theirheight. She was incited to study diligently, to listen toconversation on subjects beyond her years, to frequentthe theatre; her pleasures and occupations alike wereso many exertions of mind. She wrote a great deal.Her writings were read in society, and applauded. Thepraises she received developed also tie feelings of herheart. She passionately loved her parents and herfriends ; she read with an enthusiasm and interest thatmade books a portion of her existence. She was accus-tomed to say, that the fate of Clarissa Harlowe was