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。