e gaiety of a
child, loving laughter like a little girl, which does not prevent
her from possessing a religious enthusiasm for great objects.
Physically, she has a grace even more beautiful than beauty, which
triumphs over a complexion still somewhat brown (she is hardly
sixteen);[*] a nose well formed, but not striking, except in the
profile; a charming figure, supple and _svelte_; feet and hands
exquisitely formed, and wonderfully small, as I have just
mentioned. All these advantages are, moreover, thrown into relief
by a proud bearing, full of race, by an air of distinction and
ease which all queens have not, and which is now quite lost in
France, where everybody wishes to be equal. This exterior--this
air of distinction--this look of a _grande dame_, is one of the
most precious gifts which God--the God of women can bestow. The
Countess Georges speaks four languages as if she were a native of
each of the countries whose tongue she knows so thoroughly. She
has a keenness of observation which astonishes me; nothing escapes
her. She is besides extremely prudent; and entirely to be relied
on in daily intercourse. There are no words to describe her, but
_perle fine_. Her husband adores her; I adore her; two cousins on
the point of _old-maidism_ adore her--she will always be adored,
as fresh reasons for loving her continually arise."

[*] For the incorrectness of this statement, see the chapter on the
Countess Mniszech.

Such adoration of Madame Hanska's daughter was enough to make Madame
Surville jealous, especially when she was so despondent over her
financial situation, but Balzac tried to cheer her thus: "You should
be proud of your two children, they have written two charming letters,
which have been much admired here. Two such daughters are the reward
of your life; you can afford to accept many misfortunes."[*]

[*] Sophie Surville, the older daughter, whose matrimonial
possibilities were so much discussed, was finally unhappily
married to M. Mallet. She was a good harpist, and taught the harp.
She died without issue. Valentine was married, 1859, to M. Louis
Duhamel, a lawyer. She had a good voice for singing and literary
talent; she took charge of having Balzac's correspondence
published. She had two children; a daughter who became Mme. Pierre
Carrier-Belleuse, wife of an artist, and a son, _publiciste
distingue_. Laurence de Balzac ha