The King has always treated him with distinguished politeness, but
without seeming desirous to retain him about Court, so that, as you
know, he has always had employment either in the army or in
governments, gaining ample honour, but without enjoying personal
favour or intercourse with the King, who, it may be, trusts his
loyalty, without brooking his plain speaking.
I saw my sister once again. When she had at last settled in the old
chateau, and after my son and nephew had made their first campaign at
the siege of Lille, we had to join in the progress of the Court to
Dunkirk and Lille to see the King's new fortifications. A strange
progress it was to me, for Mademoiselle was by this time infatuated
by her unfortunate passion for the Duke of Lauzun, and never ceased
confiding to me her admiration and her despair whenever there was a
shower of rain on his perruque. However, when the Duchess of Orleans
crossed to England I obtained permission to go with my son to visit
our relations, since it was then the object to draw together as close
as possible the links between the countries.
It was a joyous visit, though it was a shock to me to see the grand
old castle of the Walwyn replaced by a square Dutch-looking brick
house of many windows, only recently built, and where I remembered
noble woods and grand trees to see only copse-wood and fields. But
who could regret anything when I saw my dear sister, a glad, proud,
happy wife and mother, a still young, active, and merry matron,
dazzlingly fair as ever, among her growing sons and pretty daughters,
and indeed far more handsome than when she sat in the salons of
Paris, weary and almost fierce, in her half-tamed, wild-cat days,
whereas now her step was about the house and garden everywhere, as
the notable housewife and good mother.
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