266  IDIOMATIC   FRENCH   COMPOSITION

138b.   Letter  on  Greek  burials

A  Greek  lady  whom  you  know,  Sir,  as  distinguished  by
her  position  as  by  the  beauty  of  her  soul,  and  who  added37
to  the  charms20  of  her  sex  those  of  a  fine38  education,  lived
with  a  younger39  brother,  who,  out  of  excessive*0  virtue,  had
given  up  the  honors  and  positions  to  which  his  rank  and
his  connections41  entitled  him.*2  He  had  for  his  sister  the43
tenderness  of  a  brother  and  the43  friendship  of  a  virtuous
friend.  This  beloved44  brother,  having  caught  a  malignant
fever,  died  after  a  four-day  illness,45  in  spite  of  the  care  which
wealth  and  friendship  bestowed46  upon  him.  His  sister,
according  to  the  custom47  of  the  country,  accompanied  the
funeral  procession**  preceded  by  part49  of  the  Greek  nobility.
