folic among their companions.

M. de Solivet was consulted on this wild scheme of mine, and the
Marchioness desired him to show me its absurdity. He began by
arguing that it was never when to act in the face of custom, and that
he had only known of two ladies who had followed their husbands to
the wars, and both them only belonged to the petite noblesse, and
were no precedent for me! One of them had actually joined her
husband when wounded and made prisoner, and it was said that her care
had saved his life!

Such a confession on his part rendered me the more determined, and we
reminded M. de Nidemerle of his promise to consult Madame de
Rambouillet, though I would not engage even then to abide by any
decision except my father's, which I daily expected. I overheard
people saying how much M. de Bellaise was improved by his marriage,
and how much more manly and less embarrassed he had become, and I
felt that my resolution made him happy, so that I became the more
determined.

Children, you who have laughed at Les Precieuses can have little idea
what the Hotel de Rambouillet was when, three nights after arrival, I
went thither with my husband and his uncle and aunt.

The large salon, hung and draped with blue velvet, divided by lines
of gold, was full of people ranged in a circle, listening eagerly to
the recital of poem by the author, an Abbe, who stood in the midst,
declaiming each couplet with emphasis, and keeping time with his
foot, while he made gestures with his uplifted hand. Indeed, I
thought at first he was in a furious passion and was going to knock