Descendants of the Stuarts

OF THE STUARTS. 193
dissipate his moments of ennui, and for this, if
for nothing else, he was grateful. She was more-
over almost the only member of the royal family
who made a practice of habitually conversing with
him. " At table," she writes, " the king was
almost obliged to talk to me, for the others said
scarcely a word. — In the cabinet after supper, no one
but the duchess* and I spoke to him. If he wished
to reprove any one, he would always address himself
to me, for he knew I never restrained myself in
conversation, and that amused him infinitely." It is
undeniable that from their first introduction Louis
conceived a profound esteem for her, which it is
pleasing to find was not unreciprocated on her part,
as throughout her Memoirs she invariably speaks
of him with respect and affection ; indeed to such
lengths did she carry her adoration, that many
writers attributed it to a tenderer feeling than
regard, a charge for which there seems to have
been no foundation, as her language, though warm,
is never passionate. She appears to have looked up
to him as to a father, and to have gloried in
viewing him in that light ; for if her feelings had
partaken of a tenderer nature she would not have
paraded them as she did. That the French should
have miscomprehended this platonic feeling can
excite as little surprise as that they should have
misappreciated it. It must be remembered that
Madame was a German princess, had been brought
* Madame's cousin, Anne, Duchess of Bourbon.
O