be
said against it, the character and the style being equally null; there
is nothing one can even blame. Of what age is the chapel? Neither
Gothic nor the _renaissance_, nor is it even the Jesuit style.
Perhaps, then, there is something of the Jansenist austerity? It is by
no means austere. What is it then? Nothing. But this nothing causes
an overwhelming _ennui_, such as one would never find elsewhere.

After this first short half-devout and half-worldly period, that of the
representations of Athalie and Esther, which the young ladies had
played too well, the school being reformed, became a sort of convent.
Instead of Racine, it was the Abbe Pellegrin and Madame de Maintenon
who wrote pieces for Saint-Cyr; and the governesses were required to be
nuns. This was a great change; it displeased Louis XIV. himself, and
ran the risk of compromising the new establishment. Madame de
Maintenon seems to have been aware of this, and she looked out for a
_foundation-stone to her edifice_, a living one--alas! a woman full of
grace and life!--It was poor Maisonfort, whom they decided to veil,
immure, and seal up for ever in the foundations of Saint-Cyr.

But she whose will was law in everything, was unable to do this.
Lively and independent as was La Maisonfort, all the kings and queens
in the world would have been unsuccessful. The heart alone, skilfully
touched, was able to induce her to take the desired step. Madame de
Maintenon, who desired it extremely, made such vigorous efforts, that
they surprise us when we read her letters. That very reserved person
throws her character aside in this business: she becomes confiding, in
order to be confided in, and does not fear to avow to the young girl,
whom she wishes to make disgusted with this life, that she herself, in
the highest station in the world, "is dying of sadness and _ennui_."

What proved to be much more efficacious, was their employing against
her a new director, the seducing, charming, irresistible Abbe de
Fenelon. He was then on very good terms with Madame de Maintenon;
dining every Sunday with her in the apartments of the Duchesses de
Beauvilliers and de Chevreuse, where, all alone, without servants, they
served themselves, that they might not be overheard. The inclination
La Maisonfort felt for this singular man was great, and authority
ordered her to follow this inclination: "See the Abbe de Fenelon,"
Madame de Maintenon would write to her, "and accustom