...present Grand Duchess Dowager), a lady of very remarkable endowments, would kindly borrow our books from us, lend us her own, and graciously talk to us young men about our literary tastes and pursuits. In the respect paid by this Court to the Patriarch of letters, there was something ennobling,...

...present Grand Duchess Dowager), a lady of very remarkable endowments, would kindly borrow our books from us, lend us her own, and graciously talk to us young men about our literary tastes and pursuits. In the respect paid by this Court to the Patriarch of letters, there was something ennobling,...

...friendly, simple and polished' and 'the young ladies, one and all, spoke admirable English'. 'With a five-andtwenty years' experience since those happy days of which I write', Thackeray concludes, 'and an acquaintance with an immense variety of human kind, I think I have never...