terchanged, the idle, fatigued because they 
have done nothing, waddle about pretending 
an indolent enjoyment of the music. Here is 
nothing but riches and happiness, nothing 
which does not breathe and inspire careless-
ness and the pleasure which life takes in allow-
ing itself to live. Nay, nothing, unless it be the 
aspect of this mob which leans down there 
upon the outer barrier, catching, without pay-
ment, at the will of the wind, a shred of music, 
and gazing upon the sparkling throng within. 
It is always interesting, this reflection of the 
rich man’s joy in the depth of the poor man’s 
eye; but this day, among this populace clad in 
blouses and calico, I saw a being whose nobil-
ity made a startling contrast with all the sur-
rounding triviality. 
It was a tall and majestic woman, so noble 
in her whole bearing that I do not remember to 
have ever seen her equal in the galleries of the 
aristocratic beauties of the past. A perfume of 
haughty virtue emanated from her whole per-
son; her face, sad and thin, was perfectly in 
keeping with the full mourning in which she 
was dressed; she too, like the Plebs with which 
she had mingled, and which she did not see, 
she too gazed upon that glittering society with 
a thoughtful eye, and nodding gently her head, 
listened to the music.