He was governed, and desirous of having his feelings honoured, he announced it openly, merely seeking to colour it under the pretext of the education of his children.
The Comtesse de Genlis followed at the same time the ambition of courts and the reputation of literature.

She wrote with elegance those light works which amuse a woman's idle hours, whilst they lead their hearts astray into imaginary amours.

Romances, which are to the west what opium is to the Orientals, waking day-dreams, had become necessities and events for the _salons_.

Madame de Genlis wrote in a graceful style, and clothed her characters and ideas with a certain affectation of austerity which gave a becomingness to love: she moreover affected an universal acquaintance with the sciences, which made her sex disappear before the pretensions of her mind, and which recalled in her person those women of Italy who profess philosophy with a veil over their countenances.
The Duc d'Orleans, an innovator in every thing, believed he had found in a woman the Mentor for his sons.

He nominated her governor of his children.