[*] Sophie Surville, the older daughter, whose matrimonial
    possibilities were so much discussed, was finally unhappily
    married to M. Mallet.  She was a good harpist, and taught the harp. 
    She died without issue.  Valentine was married, 1859, to M. Louis
    Duhamel, a lawyer.  She had a good voice for singing and literary
    talent; she took charge of having Balzac’s correspondence
    published.  She had two children; a daughter who became Mme. Pierre
    Carrier-Belleuse, wife of an artist, and a son, publiciste
    distingue.  Laurence de Balzac had two sons; the older Alfred de
    Montzaigle, dissipated, a friend of Musset, died in 1852 without
    issue.  The younger son, Alfonse, married Mlle. Caroline Jung; he
    died in 1868 at Strasbourg.  Of their three children, only one,
    Paul de Montzaigle, lived.  M. Surville-Duhamel, Mme. Pierre
    Carrier-Belleuse, and M. de Montzaigle are the only living
    relatives of Balzac.  Mme. Belleuse and M. de Montzaigle have each
    a little daughter.

     MADAME SALLAMBIER—­MADAME DE MONTZAIGLE—­MADAME DE BRUGNOLLE
      —­MADAME DELANNOY—­MADAME DE POMMEREUL—­MADAME DE MARGONNE

 “Ah we are fine specimens in this blessed family of ours!  What a
  pity we can’t put ourselves into novels.”

Another member of Balzac’s family circle was his affectionate and amiable grandmother, whom he loved from childhood.  After her husband’s death, Madame Sallambier lived with her daughter, Madame de Balzac.  She seems to have had a kind disposition, and having the requisite means, she could indulge Honore in various ways.  When he was brought back from college in wretched health, she condemned the schools for their neglect.

While studying at home, Balzac frequently spent his evenings playing whist or Boston with her.  Through voluntary inattention or foolish plays, she allowed him to win money which he used to buy books.  Throughout his life he loved these games in memory of her.  She encouraged him in his writings, and when L’Heritiere de Birague was sold for eight hundred francs, he was sure of the sale of the first copy, for she had promised to buy it.  He was devoted to her, and when he had neglected writing to her for some time, he atoned by sending to her a most affectionate letter.

After the marriage of his sister Laure, Balzac kept her informed in detail concerning the family life.  Of his grandmother, we find the following: 

“Grandmamma begs me to say all the pretty things she would write if that unfortunate malady did not rob her of all her facilities!  Nevertheless she begins to think her head is better, and if the spring comes there is every reason to hope she will recover her wonted gaiety. . . .  Grandmamma is suffering from a nervous attack; . . .  Papa says that grandmamma is a clever actress