WhyMrs。GeneralTalboysfirstmadeuphermindtopassthewinterof1859atRomeIneverclearlyunderstood。Tomyselfsheexplainedherpurposes，soonafterherarrivalattheEternalCity，bydeclaring，inherownenthusiasticmanner，thatshewasinspiredbyaburningdesiretodrinkfreshatthestilllivingfountainsofclassicalpoetryandsentiment。ButIalwaysthoughtthattherewassomethingmorethanthisinit。Classicalpoetryandsentimentweredoubtlessverydeartoher；butsoalso，Iimagine，werethesubstantialcomfortsofHardoverLodge，theGeneral\'shouseinBerkshire；andIdonotthinkthatshewouldhaveemigratedforthewinterhadtherenotbeensomeslightdomesticmisunderstanding。
Letthis，however，befullymadeclear，thatsuchmisunderstanding，ifitexisted，musthavebeensimplyanaffairoftemper。Noimproprietyofconducthas，Iamverysure，everbeenimputedtothelady。TheGeneral，asalltheworldknows，ishot；andMrs。
Talboys，whenthesweetriversofherenthusiasmareunfedbycongenialwaters，can，Ibelieve，makeherselfdisagreeable。
Butbethisasitmay，inNovember，1859，Mrs。TalboyscameamongusEnglishatRome，andsoonsucceededinobtainingforherselfacomfortablefootinginoursociety。Weallthoughthermoreremarkableforhermentalattributesthanforphysicalperfection；
but，nevertheless，shewas，inherownway，asightlywoman。Shehadnospecialbrilliance，eitherofeyeorcomplexion，suchaswouldproducesuddenflamesinsusceptiblehearts；nordidsheseemtodemandinstanthomagebytheformandstepofagoddess；butwefoundhertobeagood-lookingwomanofsomethirtyorthirty-threeyearsofage，withsoft，peach-likecheeks，rathertoolikethoseofacherub，withsparklingeyeswhichwerehardlylargeenough，withgoodteeth，awhiteforehead，adimpledchinandafullbust。
Such，outwardly，wasMrs。GeneralTalboys。Thedescriptionoftheinwardwomanisthepurporttowhichthesefewpageswillbedevoted。
Therearetwoqualitiestowhichthebestofmankindaremuchsubject，whicharenearlyrelatedtoeachother，andastowhichtheworldhasnotyetdecidedwhethertheyaretobeclassedamongthegoodorevilattributesofournature。Menandwomenareundertheinfluenceofthemboth，butmenoftenestundergotheformer，andwomenthelatter。Theyareambitionandenthusiasm。NowMrs。
Talboyswasanenthusiasticwoman。
Astoambition，generallyastheworldagreeswithMarkAntonyinstigmatisingitasagrievousfault，Iammyselfclearthatitisavirtue；butwithambitionatpresentwehavenoconcern。Enthusiasmalso，asIthink，leanstovirtue\'sside；or，atleast，ifitbeafault，ofallfaultsitistheprettiest。Butthen，topartakeatallofvirtue，oreventobeinanydegreepretty，theenthusiasmmustbetrue。
Badcoinisknownfromgoodbytheringofit；andsoisbadenthusiasm。Letthecoinerbeeversocleverathisart，inthecoiningofenthusiasmthesoundoftruegoldcanneverbeimpartedtothefalsemetal。AndIdoubtwhetherthecleverestsheintheworldcanmakefalseenthusiasmpalatabletothetasteofman。Tothetasteofanywomantheenthusiasmofanotherwomanisneververypalatable。
WeunderstoodatHomethatMrs。Talboyshadaconsiderablefamily，
fourorfivechildren，weweretold；butshebroughtwithheronlyonedaughter，alittlegirlabouttwelveyearsofage。Shehadtornherselfasunder，asshetoldme，fromtheyoungernurslingsofherheart，andhadleftthemtothecareofadevotedfemaleattendant，whoselovewasallbutmaternal。AndthenshesaidawordortwoabouttheGeneral，intermswhichmademealmostthinkthatthisquasi-maternalloveextendeditselfbeyondthechildren。Theidea，however，wasamistakenone，arisingfromthestrengthofherlanguage，towhichIwasthenunaccustomed。IhavesincebecomeawarethatnothingcanbemoredecorousthanoldMrs。Upton，theexcellenthead-nurseatHardoverLodge；andnogentlemanmorediscreetinhisconductthanGeneralTalboys。
AndImayaswellheredeclare，also，thattherecouldbenomorevirtuouswomanthantheGeneral\'swife。Hermarriagevowwastoherparamounttoallothervowsandbondswhatever。TheGeneral\'shonourwasquitesafewhenhesentherofftoRomebyherself；andhenodoubtknewthatitwasso。Illiroburetaestriplex，ofwhichIbelievenoweaponsofanyassailantcouldgetthebetter。
But，nevertheless，weusedtofancythatshehadnorepugnancetoimproprietyinotherwomen，towhattheworldgenerallycallsimpropriety。Invinciblyattachedherselftothemarriagetie，shewouldconstantlyspeakofitasbynomeansnecessarilybindingonothers；and，virtuousherselfasanygriffinofpropriety，sheconstantlypatronised，atanyrate，thetheoryofinfidelityinherneighbours。ShewasveryeagerindenouncingtheprejudicesoftheEnglishworld，declaringthatshehadfoundexistenceamongthemtobenolongerpossibleforherself。ShewashotagainstthesternunforgivenessofBritishmatrons，andequallyeagerinreprobatingthestiffconventionalitiesofareligioninwhichshesaidthatnoneofitsvotarieshadfaith，thoughtheyallallowedthemselvestobeenslaved。
WehadatthattimeasmallsetatRome，consistingchieflyofEnglishandAmericans，whohabituallymetateachother\'srooms，andspentmanyofoureveninghoursindiscussingItalianpolitics。Wewere，mostofus，painters，poets，novelists，orsculptors；perhapsIshouldsaywould-bepainters，poets，novelists，andsculptors，
aspirantshopingtobecomesomedayrecognised；andamongusMrs。
Talboystookherplace，naturallyenough，onaccountofaveryprettytasteshehadforpainting。
Idonotknowthatsheeveroriginatedanythingthatwasgrand；butshemadesomenicecopies，andwasfond，atanyrate，ofartconversation。Shewroteessays，too，whichsheshowedinconfidencetovariousgentlemen，andhadsomeideaoftakinglessonsinmodelling。
InallourcircleConradMackinnon，anAmerican，was，perhaps，thepersonmostqualifiedtobestyleditsleader。Hewasonewhoabsolutelydidgainhisliving，andanamplelivingtoo，byhispen，andwasregardedonallsidesasaliterarylion，justifiedbysuccessinroaringatanytonehemightplease。Hisusualroarwasnotexactlythatofasucking-doveoranightingale；butitwasagood-humouredroar，notveryoffensivetoanyman，andapparentlyacceptableenoughtosomeladies。Hewasabigburlyman，neartofiftyasIsuppose，somewhatawkwardinhisgait，andsomewhatloudinhislaugh。Butthoughnightofifty，andthusungainly，helikedtobesmiledonbyprettywomen，andliked，assomesaid，tobeflatteredbythemalso。Ifso，heshouldhavebeenhappy，fortheladiesatRomeatthattimemademuchofConradMackinnon。
OfMrs。Mackinnonnoonedidmakeverymuch，andyetshewasoneofthesweetest，dearest，quietest，littlecreaturesthatevermadegladaman\'sfireside。Shewasexquisitelypretty，alwaysingoodhumour，neverstupid，self-denyingtoafault，andyetshewasgenerallyinthebackground。Shewouldseldomcomeforwardofherownwill，butwascontentedtositbehindherteapotandhearMackinnondohisroaring。HewascertainlymuchgiventowhattheworldatRomecalledflirting，butthisdidnotintheleastannoyher。Shewastwentyyearshisjunior，andyetsheneverflirtedwithanyone。Womenwouldtellhergood-naturedfriendshowMackinnonwenton；butshereceivedsuchtidingsasanexcellentjoke，observingthathehadalwaysdonethesame，andnodoubtalwayswoulduntilhewasninety。Idobelievethatshewasahappywoman；andyetIusedtothinkthatsheshouldhavebeenhappier。
Thereis，however，noknowingtheinsideofanotherman\'shouse，orreadingtheriddlesofanotherman\'sjoyandsorrow。