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The Dauphiness had brought from Vienna a considerable number of white diamonds； the King added to them the gift of the diamonds and pearls of the late Dauphiness； and also put into her hands a collar of pearls； of a single row； the smallest of which was as large as a filbert； and which had been brought into France by Anne of Austria； and appropriated by that Princess to the use of the Queens and Dauphinesses of France。
The three Princesses； daughters of Louis XV。； joined in making her magnificent presents。 Madame Adelaide at the same time gave the young Princess a key to the private corridors of the Chateau； by means of which； without any suite； and without being perceived； she could get to the apartments of her aunts； and see them in private。 The Dauphiness； on receiving the key； told them； with infinite grace； that if they had meant to make her appreciate the superb presents they were kind enough to bestow upon her； they should not at the same time have offered her one of such inestimable value； since to that key she should be indebted for an intimacy and advice unspeakably precious at her age。 She did； indeed； make use of it very frequently； but Madame Victoire alone permitted her； so long as she continued Dauphiness； to visit her familiarly。 Madame Adelaide could not overcome her prejudices against Austrian princesses； and was wearied with the somewhat petulant gaiety of the Dauphiness。 Madame Victoire was concerned at this； feeling that their society and counsel would have been highly useful to a young person otherwise likely to meet with none but sycophants。 She endeavoured； therefore； to induce her to take pleasure in the society of the Marquise de Durfort； her lady of honour and favourite。 Several agreeable entertainments took place at the house of this lady； but the Comtesse de Noailles and the Abbe de Vermond soon opposed these meetings。
A circumstance which happened in hunting； near the village of Acheres； in the forest of Fontainebleau； afforded the young Princess an opportunity of displaying her respect for old age； and her compassion for misfortune。 An aged peasant was wounded by the stag； the Dauphiness jumped out of her calash； placed the peasant； with his wife and children； in it； had the family taken back to their cottage； and bestowed upon them every attention and every necessary assistance。 Her heart was always open to the feelings of compassion； and the recollection of her rank never restrained her sensibility。 Several persons in her service entered her room one evening； expecting to find nobody there but the officer in waiting； they perceived the young Princess seated by the side of this man； who was advanced in years； she had placed near him a bowl full of water； was stanching the blood which issued from a wound he had received in his hand with her handkerchief； which she had torn up to bind it； and was fulfilling towards him all the duties of a pious sister of charity。 The old man； affected even to tears； out of respect allowed his august mistress to act as she thought proper。 He had hurt himself in endeavouring to move a rather heavy piece of furniture at the Princess's request。
In the month of July； 1770； an unfortunate occurrence that took place in a family which the Dauphiness honoured with her favour contributed again to show not only her sensibility but also the benevolence of her disposition。 One of her women in waiting had a son who was an officer in the gens d'armes of the guard； this young man thought himself affronted by a clerk in the War Department； and imprudently sent him a challenge； he killed his adversary in the forest of Compiegne。 The family of the young man who was killed； being in possession of the challenge； demanded justice。 The King； distressed on account of several duels which had recently taken place； had unfortunately declared that he would show no mercy on the first event of that kind which could be proved； the culprit was therefore arrested。 His mother； in the deepest grief； hastened to throw herself at the feet of the Dauphiness； the Dauphin； and the young Princesses。 After an hour's supplication they obtained from the King the favour so much desired。 On the next day a lady of rank； while congratulating the Dauphiness； had the malice to add that the mother had neglected no means of success on the occasion； having solicited not only the royal family； but even Madame du Barry。 The Dauphiness replied that the fact justified the favourable opinion she had formed of the worthy woman； that the heart of a mother should hesitate at nothing for the salvation of her son； and that in her place； if she had thought it would be serviceable； she would have thrown herself at the feet of Zamor。
＇A little Indian who carried the Comtesse du Barry's train。 Louis XV。 often amused himself with the little marmoset； and jestingly made him Governor of Louveciennes； he received an annual income of 3；000 francs。＇
Some time after the marriage entertainments the Dauphiness made her entry into Paris； and was received with transports of joy。 After dining in the King's apartment at the Tuileries； she was forced； by the reiterated shouts of the multitude； with whom the garden was filled； to present herself upon the balcony fronting the principal walk。 On seeing such a crowd of heads with their eyes fixed upon her； she exclaimed； 〃Grand… Dieu！ what a concourse！〃〃Madame；〃 said the old Duc de Brissac； the Governor of Paris； 〃I may tell you； without fear of offending the Dauphin； that they are so many lovers。〃 2 The Dauphin took no umbrage at either acclamations or marks of homage of which the Dauphiness was the object。 The most mortifying indifference； a coldness which frequently degenerated into rudeness； were the sole feelings which the young Prince then manifested towards her。 Not all her charms could gain even upon his senses。 This estrangement； which lasted a long time； was said to be the work of the Duc de La Vauguyon。
The Dauphiness； in fact； had no sincere friends at Court except the Duc de Choiseul and his party。 Will it be credited that the plans laid against Marie Antoinette went so far as divorce？ I have been assured of it by persons holding high situations at Court； and many circumstances tend to confirm the opinion。 On the journey to Fontainebleau； in the year of the marriage； the inspectors of public buildings were gained over to manage so that the apartment intended for the Dauphin； communicating with that of the Dauphiness； should not be finished； and a room at the extremity of the building was temporarily assigned to him。 The Dauphiness； aware that this was the result of intrigue； had the courage to complain of it to Louis XV。；who； after severe reprimands； gave orders so positive that within the week the apartment was ready。 Every method was tried to continue or augment the indifference which the Dauphin long manifested towards his youthful spouse。 She was deeply hurt at it； but she never suffered herself to utter the slightest complaint on the subject。 Inattention to； even contempt for； the charms which she heard extolled on all sides； nothing induced her to break silence； and some tears； which would involuntarily burst from her eyes； were the sole symptoms of her inward sufferings discoverable by those in her service。
Once only； when tired out with the misplaced remonstrances of an old lady attached to her person； who wished to dissuade her from riding on horseback； under the impression that it would prevent her producing heirs to the crown； 〃Mademoiselle；〃 said she； 〃in God's name； leave me in peace； be assured that I can put no heir in danger。〃
The Dauphiness found at the Court of Louis XV。； besides the three Princesses； the King's daughters； the Princes also； brothers of the Dauphin； who were receiving their education； and Clotilde and Elisabeth； still in the care of Madame de Marsan； governess of the children of France。 The elder of the two latter Princesses； in 1777； married the Prince of Piedmont； afterwards King of Sardinia。 This Princess was in her infancy； so extremely large that the people nicknamed her 'gros Madame。'
＇ Madame Clotilde of France； a sister of the King； was extraordinarily fat for her height and age。 One of her playfellows； having been indiscreet enough even in her presence to make use of the nickname given to her； received a severe reprimand from the Comtesse de Marsan； who hinted to her that she would do well in not making her appearance again before the Princess。 Madame Clotilde sent for her the next day： 〃My governess；〃 said she； 〃has done her duty； and I will do mine； come and see me as usual； and think no more of a piece of inadvertence； which I myself have forgotten。〃 This Princess； so heavy in body； possessed the most agreeable and playful wit。 Her affability and grace rendered her dear to all who came near her。 NOTE BY THE EDITOR＇
The second Princess was the pious Elisabeth； the victim of her respect and tender attachment for the King； her brother。 She was still scarcely out of her leading…strings at the period of the Dauphin's marriage。 The Dauphiness showed her marked preference。 The governess； who sought to advance