Her eyes, which at times had a scared expression like those of Adelaide, were as limpid as crystal, similar to those of kittens doomed to die of consumption.
In presence of those two illegitimate children Pierre seemed a stranger; to one who had not penetrated to the roots of his being he would have appeared profoundly dissimilar.

Never did child's nature show a more equal balance of the characteristics of its parents.

He was the exact mean between the peasant Rougon and the nervous Adelaide.

Paternal grossness was attenuated by the maternal influence.

One found in him the first phase of that evolution of temperaments which ultimately brings about the amelioration or deterioration of a race.