CHAPTER XVII.
Romantic Feelings of Lady C---- -- True Love--Disagreeable Neighbours--Credulity--Mademoiselle Delphine Gay--French Novels--French Critics--Eligible Mansions--Comforts of Seclusion--Genius of L.E.L .-- The Comtesse d'O---- -- A Brilliant Talker--Letter from Mrs.Hare--Extreme Hospitality--Longchamps--Exhibition of Spring Fashions--French Beauties--Animated Scene--Promenade at Longchamps--Extravagance of Mademoiselle Duthe--Modern Morals--_Cinq Mars_, by Comte Alfred de Vigny--His Style--Strictures on Mankind--The best Philosophy--Speech of Lord Grey--The Caterpillar--A Voracious Appetite--A Refined Lady--_La Chronique du temps de Charles IX_, by Prosper Merimee--Estimation of Sir Walter Scott--Jules Janin--Injudicious Praise--Renewal of Youth--Self-Deception--Grey Hairs, 194..