Page:William Jerdan.pdf/41

206 Recamier is really still beautiful, and with exquisite manners. I liked Chateaubriand so much.

"I must not enter into details, for I have no time."

I have no comment to offer on these natural and unaffected reminiscences. To my mind they combine the wonderfully mixed qualities of every-day sense and observation, the peculiarities of sex, the love of nature and the beautiful in all things, the playfulness of fancy, and the innate charm of genius. Out of them I, at least, can re-create a vivid portrait of the lamented writer.