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attributes of our nature。 Men and women are under the influence of them
both； but men oftenest undergo the former； and women the latter。 They are
ambition and enthusiasm。 Now Mrs。 Talboys was an enthusiastic woman。
As to ambition； generally as the world agrees with Mark Antony in
stigmatising it as a grievous fault； I am myself clear that it is a virtue； but
with ambition at present we have no concern。 Enthusiasm also； as I think；
leans to virtue's side； or； at least； if it be a fault； of all faults it is the
prettiest。 But then； to partake at all of virtue or even to be in any degree
pretty； the enthusiasm must be true。
Bad coin is known from good by the ring of it； and so is bad
enthusiasm。 Let the coiner be ever so clever at his art； in the coining of
enthusiasm the sound of true gold can never be imparted to the false metal；
and I doubt whether the cleverest she in the world can make false
enthusiasm palatable to the taste of man； to the taste of any woman the
enthusiasm of another woman is never very palatable。
We understood at Rome that Mrs。 Talboys had a considerable family；
four or five children； we were told；but she brought with her only one
daughter； a little girl about twelve years of age。 She had torn herself
asunder； as she told me； from the younger nurslings of her heart； and had
left them to the care of a devoted female attendant； whose love was all but
maternal。 And then she said a word or two about the general in terms
which made me almost think that this quasi… maternal love extended itself
beyond the children。 The idea； however； was a mistaken one； arising from
the strength of her language； to which I was then unaccustomed。 I have
since become aware that nothing can be more decorous than old Mrs。
Upton； the excellent head nurse at Hardover Lodge； and no gentleman
more discreet in his conduct than General Talboys。
And I may as well here declare also that there could be no more
virtuous woman than the general's wife。 Her marriage vow was to her
paramount to all other vows and bonds whatever。 The general's honour
was quite safe when he sent her off to Rome by herself； and he no doubt
knew that it was so。 /Illi robur et oes triplex/； of which I believe no
weapons of any assailant could get the better。 But nevertheless we used to
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fancy that she had no repugnance to impropriety in other womento what
the world generally calls impropriety。 Invincibly attached herself to the
marriage tie； she would constantly speak of it as by no means necessarily
binding on others； and virtuous herself as any griffin of propriety； she
constantly patronised； at any rate； the theory of infidelity in her neighbours。
She was very eager in denouncing the prejudices of the English world；
declaring that she found existence among them to be no longer possible
for herself。 She was hot against the stern unforgiveness of British matrons；
and equally eager in reprobating the stiff conventionalities of a religion in
which she said that none of its votaries had faith； though they all allowed
themselves to be enslaved。
We had at that time a small set at Rome consisting chiefly of English
and Americans； who habitually met at one another's rooms； and spent
many of our evening hours in discussing Italian politics。 We were； most of
us； painters； poets； novelists； or sculptorsperhaps I should say would…be
painters； poets； novelists； and sculptors； aspirants hoping to become some
day recognised； and among us Mrs。 Talboys took her place naturally
enough on account of a very pretty taste she had for painting。 I do not
know that she ever originated anything that was grand； but she made some
nice copies and was fond； at any rate； of art conversation。 She wrote
essays too； which she showed in confidence to various gentlemen； and had
some idea of taking lessons in modelling。
In all our circle Conrad Mackinnon； an American； was perhaps the
person most qualified to be styled its leader。 He was one who absolutely
did gain his living； and an ample living too； by his pen； and was regarded
on all sides as a literary lion； justified by success in roaring at any tone he
might please。 His usual roar was not exactly that of a sucking dove or a
nightingale； but it was a good…humoured roar； not very offensive to any
man and apparently acceptable enough to some ladies。 He was a big； burly
man； near to fifty； as I suppose； somewhat awkward in his gait； and
somewhat loud in his laugh。 But though nigh to fifty； and thus ungainly； he
liked to be smiled on by pretty women； and liked； as some said； to be
flattered by them also。 If so he should have been happy； for the ladies at
Rome at that time made much of Conrad Mackinnon。
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Of Mrs。 Mackinnon no one did make very much； and yet she was one
of the sweetest； dearest； quietest little creatures that ever made glad a
man's fireside。 She was exquisitely pretty； always in good humour； never
stupid； self…denying to a fault； and yet she was generally in the background。
She would seldom come forward of her own will； but was contented to sit
behind her teapot and hear Mackinnon do his roaring。 He was certainly
much given to what the world at Rome called flirting； but this did not in
the least annoy her。 She was twenty years his junior； and yet she never
flirted with any one。 Women would tell her good…natured friendshow
Mackinnon went on； but she received such tidings as an excellent joke；
observing that he had always done the same； and no doubt always would
until he was ninety。 I do believe that she was a happy woman； and yet I
used to think that she should have been happier。 There is； however； no
knowing the inside of another man's house or reading the riddles of
another man's joy and sorrow。
We had also there another lion；a lion cub；entitled to roar a little；
and of him also I must say something。 Charles O'Brien was a young man