PARIS, Tuesday, October 26, 1688.
Oh! what a letter, my child! It well deserves that I should come here
on purpose to receive it, as I did. At length, then, you are arrived
safe at Grignan, and are in perfect health; and such is my fate that,
though you are removed at the distance of half the globe from me, I
must rejoice at it. Perhaps it may please Heaven that ere long I shall
embrace you again: let me live in that hope. You make a very pleasing
portrait of Paulina. I know her again; she is not at all altered, as M.
de Grignan would have made us believe she was. She is a sweet creature,
and worthy of being loved. She adores you, and her absolute submission
to your will, even in the midst of her joy at seeing you, if you decide
that she should leave you again, at once engages my pity and concern;
nor can I help admiring the power she has over herself. Were I in your
place I should be loth to part with such an agreeable companion, who
will at once furnish you with amusement and occupation. I would make
her work at her needle, and read works of taste: I would argue with
her, and sound the depth of her capacity. I would talk to her with
affection and confidence; for, believe me, you will never be tired of
her society, on the contrary, she may be of great use to you. In short,
I would make the most of her, and would not punish myself by depriving
myself of such a comfort.
I am very glad the chevalier speaks well of me; my vanity is concerned
in preserving his good opinion. If he is fond of my company, I, in
return, can never have too much of his, and I think it a proof of good
taste to be desirous of cultivating his esteem. I know not how you can
say that your humor is a cloud which hides or obscures the affections
you have for me. If such may have been the case formerly, you have for
many years past totally removed the vail, and you no longer conceal
from me any part of the most perfect and tender affection that one
person can entertain for another. Heaven will reward you for it in
your own children, who will love you, not in the same way, as perhaps
they may not be capable of it, but at least to the utmost of their
abilities, and we can desire no more.