Mme. de La Fayette, like Mme. de Sevigne, possessed an exceptional talent for making and retaining friends.  She kept aloof from intrigues, in fact, knew nothing about them, and consequently never schemed to use her favor at court for purposes of self-interest.  Two qualities belonged to her more than to any of her contemporaries—­an instinct which was superior to her reason, and a love of truth in all things.

Compared with those of Mme. de Rambouillet, it is said that her attainments were of a more solid nature; and while Mlle. de Scudery had greater brilliancy, Mme. de La Fayette had better judgment.  These qualities combined with an exquisite delicacy, fine sentiment, calmness, and depth of reason, the very basis of her nature, are reflected in her works.  Sainte-Beuve says that “her reason and experience cool her passion and temper the ideal with the results of observation.”  She was one of the very few women playing any role in French history who were endowed with all things necessary to happiness—­fortune, reputation, talent, intimate and ideal friendship.  Extremely sensitive to surroundings, she readily received impressions—­a gift which was the source of a somewhat doubtful happiness.

In her later days, notwithstanding terrible suffering, she became more devout and exhibited an admirable resignation.  A letter to Menage will show the mental and physical state reached by her in her last days:  “Although you forbid me to write to you, I wish, nevertheless, to tell you how truly affected I am by your friendship.  I appreciate it as much as when I used to see it; it is dear to me for its own worth, it is dear to me because it is at present the only one I have.  Time and old age have taken all my friends away from me....  I must tell you the state I am in.  I am, first of all, a mortal divinity, and to an excess inconceivable; I have obstructions in my entrails—­sad, inexpressible feelings; I have no spirit, no force—­I cannot read or apply myself.  The slightest things affect me—­a fly appears an elephant to me; that is my ordinary state....  I cannot believe that I can live long in this condition, and my life is too disagreeable to permit me to fear the end.  I surrender myself to the will of God; He is the All-Powerful, and, from all sides, we must go to Him at last.  They assure me that you are thinking seriously of your salvation, and I am very happy over it.”

There probably never existed a more ideal friendship between two French women, one more lasting, sincere, perfect in every way, than that of Mme. de Sevigne and Mme. de La Fayette.  The major part of the information we possess regarding events in the life of Mme. de La Fayette is obtained from their letters.  Said Mme. de Sevigne:  “Never did we have the smallest cloud upon our friendship.  Long habit had not made her merit stale to me—­the flavor of it was always fresh and new.  I paid her many attentions, from the mere promptings of my affection, not because of the propriety by which, in friendships, we are bound.  I was assured, too, that I was her dearest consolation—­which, for forty years past, had been the case.”