I never neglect any mode of paying attention to the king, and of anticipating his wishes as far as I can.

I hope that he is pleased with me.

It is my duty to please him, my duty and also my glory, if by such means I can contribute to maintain the alliance of the two houses....[3]" The empress was but half pacified about the riding and hunting.

She owned that, if both the king and the dauphin approved of it, she had nothing more to say, though she still blamed the dauphiness for forgetting a promise which she understood to have been made to herself.

At the same time, no language could be kinder than that in which she asked "whether her daughter could believe that she would wish to deprive her of so innocent a pleasure, she who would give her very life to procure her one, if she were not apprehensive of mischievous consequences;" her apprehensions being solely dictated by her anxiety to see her daughter bear an heir to the throne.