her life. But her youth and strength conquered this violent grief in the end, and she recovered.
It was soon after this event that she was first introduced, through her most intimate friend, to M. Roland de la Platiere, Inspector of Manufactures at Lyons, a man of strict probity and high scholastic attainments. He came to Paris on a visit, bearing a letter of introduction from her friend to Mademoiselle Phlipon.
M. Roland, though more than twenty years her senior, and with a heart hitherto untouched by womanly charms, was so attracted by her rare genius, her beauty, and her purity of character that he very soon besought her hand in marriage. She referred him dutifully to her father. M. Phlipon, who had become since the death of his wife reckless, dissipated, and savage, returned to M. Roland’s letter a rude and contemptuous negative reply. His daughter's home life had been for some time rendered extremely unhappy through M. Phlipon’s harshness
