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]