Ah! my dear friend, I am so afflicted, so agitated, that I can only hope to compose my spirits by writing to you. I have just had such a dreadful dispute with Mons. de Limours … I have already told you that I was sure Madame de Gerville would endeavour to marry my daughter to whom the chose … And who do you think they have proposed to me? The son of her friend; of a woman, if possible, still more contemptible than herself: in short, it is Madame de Valcy, disgraced by so many bad actions, whom they would make the mother-in-law of my daughter! …

Mons. de Limours began the subject by mentioning the family of Mons. de Valcy, which is indeed honourable, and boasted of his fortune, his person, &c. &c. I at last replied, But, Sir, do you not imagine, that my daughter has a hundred times heard of the shocking behaviour of Madame de Valcy?… We are not obliged to take our mothers-in-law for patterns; and we should often succeed better, if we did not follow the example of our mothers. This ill-natured reply vexed me beyond all expression. The conversation grew warm; and I declared I would never give my consent to the marriage; and that this was my determined resolution. At these words Mons. de Limours rose up very coolly, and said, ‘I was not absolutely fixed on this marriage; but now I shall certainly give my consent to it. I came to consult you about it; but, since you have so perfectly forgot that I am the master of my own child, I ought to prove it to you; and to-morrow you shall be convinced of it.’ He then went out, and left me in a passion not to be described. Oh! what tyrants men are! and how soon may the weakest of them become formidable even to the most haughty woman! … At length, after having uttered many imprecations against the men, after having wept plentifully, rung the bell for all my women, and taken a glass of orange flower-water, I determined to write a letter to Mons. de Limours, to acknowledge my fault, and to intreat him to take some time to reflect on so important an affair. He has just sent me an answer by his Valet de Chambre, that he will see me to-morrow.