Diderot was no worse than his neighbours, though we may well be sorry that a man of his generous sympathies and fine impulse was no better than his neighbours.
Mademoiselle Voland, after proper deduction made for the manners of the time, was of a respectable and sentimental type.

Her family were of good position; she lived with her mother and sisters, and Diderot was on good terms with them all.

We have a glimpse of the characteristics of the three ladies in a little dialogue between Diderot and some one whom he met, and who happened to have made their acquaintance.

"He informed me that he had passed three months in the country where you are .-- _Three months_, said he, _is more than one needs to go mad about Madame Le Gendre_.[192]--True, but then she is so reserved .-- _I scarcely know any woman with such an amount of self-respect_ .-- She is quite right .-- _Madame Voland is a woman of rare merit_ .-- Yes, and her eldest daughter ?--_She has the cleverness of a very devil_ .-- She is very clever, no doubt; but what I especially like is her frankness.

I would lay a wager that she has never told a voluntary lie since she came to years of discretion."[193] The relations between Diderot and Sophie Voland were therefore not at all on the common footing of a low amour with a coarse or frivolous woman of the world.