attention to matters of religion, and when only eleven years of age was sent to a convent at her own urgent desire, where for several years she remained as a pupil. Here her mind applied itself with all its intense ardor to the study of the Catholic religion. She read with great delight the “Lives of the Saints,” and entertained serious thoughts of taking the veil. To this devout frame of mind at that time may probably be ascribed the clearness with which at a riper age she was enabled to detect the shams and frauds of that same faith.
Lamartine describes her as possessing, at the age of eighteen, "a tall and supple figure, a modest and becoming demeanor; black and soft hair; blue eyes, which appeared brown in the depths of their reflection; the nose of a Grecian statue; a rather large mouth, with splendid teeth; a skin marbled with the animation of life, and veined by blood which the least impression sent mounting to her cheeks; a
