She encouraged him besides in drawing-room interests.
But in other points her influence was manlike. Filled with the
spirit of thoroughness, she taught him to make of the least of
these accomplishments a virile task; and the teaching lasted him
through life. Immersed as she was in the day's movements and
buzzed about by leading Liberals, she handed on to him her creed in
politics: an enduring kindness for Italy, and a loyalty, like that
of many clever women, to the Liberal party with but small regard to
men or measures. This attitude of mind used often to disappoint me
in a man so fond of logic; but I see now how it was learned from
the bright eyes of his mother and to the sound of the cannonades of
1848. To some of her defects, besides, she made him heir. Kind as
was the bond that united her to her son, kind and even pretty, she
was scarce a woman to adorn a home; loving as she did to shine;
careless as she was of domestic, studious of public graces. She
probably rejoiced to see the boy grow up in somewhat of the image
of herself, generous, excessive, enthusiastic, external; catching
at ideas, brandishing them when caught; fiery for the right, but
always fiery; ready at fifteen to correct a consul, ready at fifty
to explain to any artist his own art.
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