clothilde departed from versailles on 27 august and separated from the king, queen and her sister in choisy, before continuing with her brother the count of provence. the farewell between the sisters was described as intense, with elisabeth hardly able to tear herself from the arms of clothilde; queen marie antoinette commented: "my sister elisabeth is a charming child, who has intelligence, character, and much grace; she showed the greatest feeling, and much above her age, at the departure of her sister. the poor little girl was in despair, and as her health is very delicate, she was taken ill and had a very severe nervous attack. i own to my dear mamma that i fear i am getting too attached to her, feeling, from the example of my aunts, how essential it is for her happiness not to remain an old maid in this country."