Her father, member of the Institute and Professor of Chemistry at the College of France, was one of those _savants_ who enjoy dining out; he had a taste also for music and for the theatre.

Antoinette accompanied him everywhere; they scarcely ever remained at home except upon their reception evenings; but with the return of the swallows it was a pleasure to Mlle.

Moriaz to fly to Cormeilles and there pass seven months, reduced to the society of Mlle.

Moiseney, who, after having been her instructress, had become her _demoiselle de compagnie_.

She lived pretty much in the open air, walking about in the woods, reading, or painting; and the woods, her books, and her paint-brushes, to say nothing of her poor people, so agreeably occupied her time that she never experienced a quarter of an hour's _ennui_.