Chapter 3 - Page 2

the
nouveaux riches of America, but it sufficed to give Adrienne and her
grandmother a comfortable, and even a respectable subsistence in the
provinces. It was impossible for them to inhabit the chateau, now
converted into a workshop and filled with machinery, but lodgings were
procured in its immediate vicinity. Here Madame de la Rocheaimard
whiled away the close of a varied and troubled life; if not in absolute
peace, still not in absolute misery, while her grand-daughter grew into
young womanhood, a miracle of goodness and pious devotion to her
sole surviving parent. The strength of the family tie in France, and its
comparative weakness in America, has been the subject of frequent
comment among travelers. I do not know that all which has been said is
rigidly just, but I am inclined to think that much of it is, and, as I am now
writing to Americans, and of French people, I see no particular reason
why the fact should be concealed. Respect for years, deference to the
authors of their being, and submission to parental authority are
inculcated equally by the morals and the laws of France. The conseilles
de famille is a beautiful and wise provision of the national code, and aids
greatly in maintaining that system of patriarchal rule which lies at the
foundation of the whole social structure. Alas! in the case of the
excellent Adrienne, this conseille de famille was easily assembled, and
possessed perfect unanimity. The wars, the guillotine and exile had
reduced it to two, one of which was despotic in her government, so far
as theory was concerned at least; possibly, at times, a little so in
practice. Still Adrienne, on the whole grew up tolerably happy. She was
taught most that is suitable for a gentlewoman, without being crammed
with superfluous accomplishments, and, aided by the good cure, a man
who remembered her grandfather, had both polished and stored her
mind. Her manners were of the excellent tone that distinguished the
good society of Paris before the revolution, being natural, quiet, simple
and considerate. She seldom laughed, I fear; but her smiles were
sweetness and benevolence itself.

{conseille de famille = council of relatives, supervised by a judge, that
supervised the care of minors in France; cure = priest}

The bleaching grounds of our manufactory were in the old park of the
chateau. Thither Mad. de la Rocheaimard was fond of coming in the
fine mornings of June, for many of the roses and lovely Persian lilacs
that once abounded there still remained. I first saw Adrienne in one of
these visits, the quality of our little family circle attracting her attention.
One of the bleachers, indeed, was an old servant of the vicomte's, and it
was a source of pleasure to him to point out any thing