I think the humble-minded lady could have
dispensed with some of his attentions; but Paul was a personage who
demonstrated all his sentiments, and performed his various parts in life
with the greatest vigour. As a man of pleasure, for instance, what more
active roue than he? As a jeune homme, who could be younger, and for a
longer time? As a country gentleman, or an l'homme d'affaires, he
insisted upon dressing each character with the most rigid accuracy, and
an exactitude that reminded one somewhat of Bouffe, or Ferville, at the
play. I wonder whether, when is he quite old, he will think proper to
wear a pigtail, like his old father? At any rate, that was a good part
which the kind fellow was now acting, of reverence towards his widowed
mother, and affectionate respect for her declining days. He not only felt
these amiable sentiments, but he imparted them to his friends most
freely, as his wont was. He used to weep freely,--quite unrestrained by
the presence of the domestics, as English sentiment would be:--and when
Madame de Florac quitted the room after dinner, would squeeze my hand and
tell me with streaming eyes, that his mother was an angel.
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