A great attraction for Balzac in the home of Madame Surville were his two nieces, Sophie and Valentine, to whom he was devoted, and with whom he frequently spent his evenings.  The story is told that one evening on entering his sister’s home, he asked for paper and pencil, which were given him.  After spending about an hour, not in making notes, as one might imagine, but in writing columns of figures and adding them, he discovered that he owed fifty-nine thousand francs, and exclaimed that his only recourse was to blow his brains out, or throw himself into the Seine!  When questioned by his niece Sophie in tears as to whether he would not finish the novel he had begun for her, he declared that he was wrong in becoming so discouraged, to work for her would be a pleasure; he would no longer be depressed, but would finish her book, which would be a masterpiece, sell it for three thousand ecus, pay all his creditors within two years, amass a dowry for her and become a peer of France!

Balzac had forbidden his nieces to read his books, promising to write one especially for them.  The book referred to here is Ursule Mirouet which he dedicated to Sophie as follows: 

 “To Mademoiselle Sophie Surville.

“It is a real pleasure, my dear niece, to dedicate to you a book of which the subject and the details have gained the approbation—­so difficult to secure—­of a young girl to whom the world is yet unknown, and who will make no compromise with the high principles derived from a pious education.  You young girls are a public to be dreaded; you ought never to be permitted to read any books less pure than your own pure souls, and you are forbidden certain books, just as you are not allowed to see society as it really is.  Is it not enough, then, to make a writer proud, to know that he has satisfied you?  Heaven grant that affection may not have misled you!  Who can say?  The future only, which you, I hope, will see, though he may not, who is your uncle
          
                                           “BALZAC.”

To Valentine Surville he dedicated La Paix du Menage.

The novelist was interested in helping his sister find suitable husbands for her daughters.  He and Sophie had a wager as to which—­she or he—­would marry first; so when Balzac finally reached his own long-sought goal, he did not forget to remind his niece that she owed him a wedding gift.

Sophie became an accomplished musician, having for her master Ambroise Thomas.  Balzac spoke very lovingly of Valentine during her early childhood; but she was so attractive that he feared she would be spoiled.  And spoiled she was, or perhaps naturally inclined to indolence, for he wrote her a few years later: