“You are very right in saying, in your most acceptable letters which you have done me the honour of writing to me, that our interests being common, the just grief we feel in seeing the ashes, or rather the scarcely cold body of the King our father so shamefully dishonored by the Queen our stepmother, ought to be common to us also. I cannot express to you, my dear Princess, how much affliction I suffered when I was first informed of this marriage, and no other comfort can I find, than that of the necessity of submitting ourselves to the decrees of heaven; since neither you nor I, dearest sister, are in such a condition as to offer any obstacle thereto, without running heavy risk of making our own lot much worse than it is, at least so I think. We have to deal with too powerful a party who have got all authority into their hands, while we, deprived of power cut a very poor figure at court. I think then, that the best course we can take is that of dissimulation, that the mortification may fall upon those who commit the fault. For we may rest assured that the memory of the King our father, being so glorious in itself, cannot be subject to these stains which can only defile the persons who have wrought them. Let us console ourselves by making the best of what we cannot remedy. If our silence does us no honour, at least it will not draw down upon us such disasters as our lamentations might induce. These are my sentiments, which the little reason I have dictates, and which guides my respectful reply to your agreeable letter. With regard to the returning of visits, I do not see that you who are the elder are obliged to this; but the position in which I stand obliges me to take other measures, the Queen having shown me so great affection, and done me so many kind offices, that I must use much tact in manœuvring with her, for fear of appearing ungrateful for her benefits. I shall not however, be in any hurry to visit her, lest I should be charged with approving what I ought to censure. However I shall always pay much deference to your instructions and commands, in all which you shall think convenient or serviceable to you, as being your highness’s,” etc., etc.[258]