Mrs.Carlyle was no longer young, and Froude's temperament was not inflammable.

But she liked clever men, and clever men liked her.

She was an unhappy woman, without children, without religion, without any regular occupation except keeping house.

Her husband she regarded as the greatest genius of his time, and his affection for her was the deepest feeling of his heart.

He was at bottom a sincerely kind man, and his servants were devoted to him.