the subject of endless raillery
from her friends--her elaborate precaution about her health, and her
dread of infection, even from diseases the least communicable. Perhaps
this anxiety was founded as much on aesthetic as on physical grounds, on
disgust at the details of illness as much as on dread of suffering: with
a cold in the head or a bilious complaint, the exquisite _precieuse_ must
have been considerably less conscious of being "the ornament of the
world," and "made to be adored." Even her friendship, strong as it was,
was not strong enough to overcome her horror of contagion; for when
Mademoiselle de Bourbon, recently become Madame de Longueville, was
attacked by small-pox, Madame de Sable for some time had not courage to
visit her, or even to see Mademoiselle de Rambouillet, who was assiduous
in her attendance on the patient. A little correspondence _a propos_ of
these circumstances so well exhibits the graceful badinage in which the
great ladies of that day were adepts, that we are attempted to quote one
short letter.

"_Mlle. de Rambouillet to the Marquise de Sable_."

"Mlle, de Chalais (_dame de compagnie_ to the Marquise) will please
to read this letter to Mme. la Marquise, _out of_ a draught.

"Madame, I do not think it possible to begin my treaty with you too
early, for I am convinced that between the first proposition made to
me that I should see you, and the conclusion, you will have so many
reflections to make, so many physicians to consult, and so many fears
to surmount, that I shall have full leisure to air myself. The
conditions which I offer to fulfil for this purpose are, not to visit
you until I have been three days absent from the Hotel de Conde
(where Mme. de Longueville was ill), to choose a frosty day, not to
approach you within four paces, not to sit down on more than one
seat. You may also have a great fire in your room, burn juniper in
the four corners, surround yourself with imperial vinegar, with rue
and wormwood. If you can feel yourself safe under these conditions,
without my cutting off my hair, I swear to you to execute them
religiously; and if you want examples to fortify you, I can tell you
that the Queen consented to see M. Chaudebonne, when he had come
directly from Mme. de Bourbon's room, and that Mme. d'Aiguillon, who
has good taste in such matters, and is free from reproach on thes