be agreed
that the dauphiness had brought with her into France too many Austrian
notions, which she was long in losing for those of a wife and mother;
but now at the moment of my writing this, she is much changed, and is
as true a French woman as though she had been born and bred in Paris.
Unfortunately, the people appear slow in giving her credit for her
altered opinions, and to this mistake will she owe the loss of that
general love and popularity to which she has such just claims.

Prince Auguste Christian entertained for me a sincere regard, which I
returned with the truest friendship. My feelings were as pure and simple
as his own, spite of the odious calumnies with which my enemies have
attacked this harmless acquaintance; but their slander in this matter
was no worse than the manner in which they spoke of every person who
visited me. According to their report, I was the mistress of all who
presented themselves. 'Tis well for you, ye courtly dames, that you may
convert friends into lovers with impunity; be the number ever so
large none dares arraign your conduct; but for those of more humble
pretensions it is indeed considered atrocious to number more than two
admirers; should we ask to swell the list to a third--what comments,
what scandal, what vilifying reports are in circulation! In this letter,
my friend, I shall speak to you exclusively of myself. You will find
little in my conduct to praise, and I fear, much to blame. You will
easily perceive my heart was better than my head; and dear as your
opinion is to me, I write on in the hope, that should my candid avowal
lose me any portion of your esteem, it will yet obtain me a larger share
of your friendship. The dismissal of Sophie from my service occasioned a
vacancy in my household. Immediately her departure was known, I
received numberless solicitations from all who heard of it. Three days
afterwards, Henriette came to inform me that the wife of an attorney of
Chatelet solicited the task of serving me in Sophie's stead; that she
was a well-looking and respectable person, and might very probably suit
me.

"Will you see her, madam?" continued Henriette. "She is recommended by
the marchioness de Montmorency."

"Willingly," answered I; "desire her to come in." Henriette left me and
quickly returned, introducing the new candidate.

At the first glimpse I recognised Brigitta Rupert, that haughty girl,
who had been my early friend and companion at Saint Aure, b