If Madame Sallambier with her nervous attacks annoyed Balzac in his youth, he spoke beautifully of her after her death, and referred to her as his “grandmother who loved him,” or his “most excellent grandmother.”  In speaking of his grief over the death of Madame de Berny, he said that never, since the death of his grandmother, had he so deeply sounded the gulf of separation.  One of his characteristics he inherited from his grandmother, that of keeping trivial things which had belonged to those he loved.

Not a great deal is said of Balzac’s younger sister, Laurentia, but he has left this pen picture of her: 

“On the whole you know that Laurentia is as beautiful as a picture —­that she has the prettiest of arms and hands, that her complexion is pale and lovely.  In conversation people give her credit for plenty of sense, and find that it is all a natural sense, which is not yet developed.  She has beautiful eyes, and though pale many men admire that. . . .  You are not aware that Laurentia has taken a violent fancy to Augustus de L-----.  Say nothing that might lead her to suspect I have betrayed the secret, but I have all the trouble in the world to get it into her head that authors are the most villainous of matches (in respect of fortune, be it understood).  Really Laurentia is quite romantic.  How she would hate me if she knew with what irreverence I allude to her tender attachment.”

This attachment was evidently not very serious, for not long afterward Laurentia was married to Monsieur de Montzaigle.  His family had a title and stood well in the town, so Laurentia’s parents were pleased with the marriage.  This was a great event in the family, and Balzac describes to his married sister, Laure, the accompanying excitement in the home: 

“Grandmamma is in a great state of delight; papa is quite satisfied,—­so am I,—­so are you.  As to mamma, recall the last days of your own demoisellerie, and you will have some idea of what Laurentia and I have to endure.  Nature surrounds all roses with thorns:  mamma follows nature."[*]

[*] It was from the father of Laurentia’s husband that M. and Madame
    de Berny bought their home in Villeparisis.

The happiness of poor Laurentia was of short duration.  She died five years after her marriage, having two children.  Her husband did not prove to be what the Balzac family had expected, and her children were left destitute for Madame de Balzac to care for.  Balzac always spoke tenderly of her, and once in despair he exclaimed that at times he envied his poor sister Laurentia, who had been lying for many years in her coffin.

After Balzac’s return from St. Petersburg, his letters were filled with allusions to Madame de Brugnolle, his housekeeper and financial counselor.  He brought presents to various friends, and her he presented with a muff.  Besides being very practical, economical and kind, she was a good manager for Balzac financially and strict with him regarding his diet; the bonne montagnarde did almost everything possible, from running his errands to making his home happy.  He sent business letters under her name, and her fidelity and devotion are seen in her denying herself clothes in order to buy household necessities for him.