The poor little creature had given them to an alehouse-keeper, where his father had been drinking all day; and so he had spared the worthy man a rough scene with his wife when he got home.[207] From the pathos of kindly youth to the grace of lovable age the step is not far.

"To-day I have dined with a charming woman, who is only eighty years old.

She is full of health and cheerfulness; her soul is still all gentleness and tenderness.

She talks of love and friendship with the fire and sensibility of a girl of twenty.

There were three men of us at table with her; she said to us, 'My friends, a delicate conversation, a true and passionate look, a tear, a touched expression, those are the good things of the world; as for all besides, it is hardly worth talking of.