marie antoinette and her son-第1章

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Marie　Antoinette　And　Her　Son

by　Louise　Muhlbach






BOOK　I。


CHAPTER　I。

A　HAPPY　QUEEN。


It　was　the　13th　of　August；　1785。　The　queen；　Marie　Antoinette；　had　at
last　yielded　to　the　requests　and　protestations　of　her　dear　subjects。
She　had　left　her　fair　Versailles　and　loved　Trianon　for　one　day；　and
had　gone　to　Paris；　in　order　to　exhibit　herself　and　the　young　prince
whom　she　had　borne　to　the　king　and　the　country　on　the　25th　of　March；
and　to　receive　in　the　cathedral　of　Notre　Dame　the　blessing　of　the
clergy　and　the　good　wishes　of　the　Parisians。

She　had　had　an　enthusiastic　reception；　this　beautiful　and　much　loved
queen；　Marie　Antoinette。　She　had　driven　into　Paris　in　an　open
carriage；　in　company　with　her　three　children；　and　every　one　who
recognized　her　had　greeted　her　with　a　cheerful　huzzah；　and　followed
her　on　the　long　road　to　Notre　Dame；　at　whose　door　the　prominent
clergy　awaited　her；　the　cardinal；　Prince　Louis　de　Rohan；　at　their
head；　to　introduce　her　to　the　house　of　the　King　of　all　kings。

Marie　Antoinette　was　alone；　only　the　governess　of　the　children；　the
Duchess　de　Polignac；　sat　opposite　her；　upon　the　back　seat　of　the
carriage；　and　by　her　side　the　Norman　nurse；　in　her　charming
variegated　district　costume；　cradling　in　her　arms　Louis　Charles；　the
young　Duke　of　Normandy。　By　her　side；　in　the　front　part　of　the
carriage；　sat　her　other　two　childrenTherese；　the　princess　royal；
the　first…born　daughter；　and　the　dauphin　Louis；　the　presumptive　heir
of　the　much　loved　King　Louis　the　Sixteenth。　The　good　king　had　not
accompanied　his　spouse　on　this　journey　to　Paris；　which　she　undertook
in　order　to　show　to　her　dear；　yet　curious　Parisians　that　she　was
completely　recovered；　and　that　her　children；　the　children　of　France；
were　blossoming　for　the　future　like　fair　buds　of　hope　and　peace。

〃Go；　my　dear　Antoinette；〃　the　king　had　said　to　his　queen；　in　his
pleasant　way　and　with　his　good　natured　smile〃　go　to　Paris　in　order
to　prepare　a　pleasure　for　my　good　people。　Show　them　our　children；
and　receive　from　them　their　thanks　for　the　happiness　which　you　have
given　to　me　and　to　them。　I　will　not　go　with　you；　for　I　wish　that　you
should　be　the　sole　recipient　of　the　enthusiasm　of　the　people　and
their　joyful　acclamations。　I　will　not　share　your　triumph；　but　I
shall　experience　it　in　double　measure　if　you　enjoy　it　alone。　Go；
therefore；　my　beloved　Antoinette；　and　rejoice　in　this　happy　hour。〃

Marie　Antoinette　did　go；　and　she　did　rejoice　in　the　happiness　of　the
hour。　〃While　riding　through　Paris；　hundreds　recognized　her；　hundreds
hailed　her　with　loud　acclamations。　As　she　left　the　cathedral　of
Notre　Dame；　in　order　to　ascend　into　the　carriage　again　with　her
children　and　their　governess；　one　would　be　tempted　to　think　that　the
whole　square　in　front　of　the　church　had　been　changed　into　a　dark；
tumultuous　sea；　which　dashed　its　raging　black　waves　into　all　the
streets　debouching　on　the　square；　and　was　filling　all　Paris　with　its
roar；　its　swell；　its　thunder　roll。　Yes；　all　Paris　was　there；　in
order　to　look　upon　Marie　Antoinette；　who；　at　this　hour；　was　not　the
queen；　but　the　fair　woman；　the　happy　mother　who；　with　the　pride　of
the　mother　of　the　Gracchi；　desired　no　other　protection　and　no　other
companionship　than　that　of　her　two　sons；　who；　her　hand　resting　upon
the　shoulder　of　her　daughter；　needed　no　other　maid　of　honor　to
appear　before　the　people　in　all　the　splendor　and　all　the　dignity　of
the　Queen　of　France　and　the　true　mother。

Yes；　all　Paris　was　there　in　order　to　greet　the　queen；　the　woman；　and
the　mother；　and　out　of　thousands　upon　thousands　of　throats　there
sounded　forth　the　loud　ringing　shout；　〃Long　live　the　queen！　Long
live　Marie　Antoinette！　Long　live　the　fair　mother　and　the　fair
children　of　France！〃

Marie　Antoinette　felt　herself　deeply　moved　by　these　shouts。　The
sight　of　the　faces　animated　with　joy；　of　the　flashing　eyes；　and　the
intoxicated　peals　of　laughter；　kindled　her　heart；　drove　the　blood　to
her　cheeks；　and　made　her　countenance　beam　with　joy；　and　her　eyes
glisten　with　delight。　She　rose　from　her　seat；　and　with　a　gesture　of
inimitable　grace　took　the　youngest　son　from　the　arms　of　the　nurse；
and　lifted　him　high　in　the　air；　in　order　to　display　this　last　token
of　her　happiness　and　her　motherly　pride　to　the　Parisians；　who　had
not　yet　seen　the　child。　The　little　hat；　which　had　been　placed
sideways　upon　the　high　toupet　of　her　powdered　head；　had　dropped　upon
her　neck；　the　broad　lace　cuffs　had　fallen　back　from　the　arms　which
lifted　the　child　into　the　air；　and　allowed　the　whole　arm　to　be　seen
without　any　covering　above　the　elbow。

The　eyes　of　the　Parisians　drank　in　this　spectacle　with　perfect
rapture；　and　their　shouting　arose　every　moment　like　a　burst　of
fanaticism。

〃How　beautiful　she　is！〃　resounded　everywhere　from　the　mass。　〃What　a
wonderful　arm！　What　a　beautiful　neck！〃

A　deep　flush　mantled　the　face　of　Marie　Antoinette。　These　words　of
praise；　which　were　a　tribute　to　the　beauty　of　the　woman；　awoke　the
queen　from　the　ecstasy　into　which　the　enthusiasm　of　her　subjects　had
transported　her。　She　surrendered　the　child　again　to　the　arms　of　his
nurse；　and　sank　down　quickly　like　a　frightened　dove　into　the
cushions　of　the　carriage；　hastily　drawing　up　at　the　same　time　the
lace　mantle　which　had　fallen　from　her　shoulders　and　replacing　her
hat　upon　her　head。

〃Tell　the　coachman　to　drive　on　quickly；〃　she　said　to　the　nurse；　and
while　the　latter　was　communicating　this　order；　Marie　Antoinette
turned　to　her　daughter。　〃Now；　Therese；〃　asked　she；　laughing；　〃is　it
not　a　beautiful　spectacle　our　people　taking　so　much　pleasure　in
seeing　us？〃

The　little　princess　of　seven　years　shook　her　proud　little　head　with
a　doubting；　dark　look。

〃Mamma；〃　said　she；　〃these　people　look　very　dirty　and　ugly。　I　do　not
like　them！〃

〃Be　still；　my　child；　be　still；〃　whispered　the　queen；　hastily；　for
she　feared　lest　the　men　who　pressed　the　carriage　so　closely　as
almost　to　touch　its　doors；　might　hear　the　unthinking　words　of　the
little　girl。

Marie　Antoinette　had　not　deceived　herself。　A　man　in　a　blouse；　who
had　even　laid　his　hand　upon　the　carriage；　and　whose　head　almost
touched　the　princess；　a　man　with　a　blazing；　determined　face；　and
small；　piercing　black　eyes；　had　heard　the　exclamation　of　the
princess；　and　threw　upon　her　a　malignant；　threatening　glance。

〃Madame　loves　us　not；　because　we　are　ugly　and　dirty；〃　he　said；　〃but
we　should；　perhaps；　look　pretty　and　elegant　too；　if　we　could　put　on
finery　to　ride　about　in　splendid　carriages。　But　we　have　to　work；　and
we　have　to　suffer；　that　we　may　be　able　to　pay　our　taxes。　For　if　we
did　not　do　this；　our　king　and　his　family　would　not　be　able　to　strut
around　in　this　grand　style。　We　are　dirty；　because　we　are　working　for
the　king。〃

〃I　beg　you；　sir；〃　replied　the　queen；　softly；　〃to　forgive　my
daughter；　she　is　but　a　child；　and　does　not　know　what　she　is　saying。
She　will　learn　from　her　parents；　however；　to　love　our　good；　hard…
working　people；　and　to　be　thankful　for　their　love；　sir。〃

〃I　am　no　'sir；'　〃　replied　the　man；　gruffly；　〃I　am　the　poor　cobbler
Simon；　nothing　more。〃

〃Then　I　beg　you；　Master　Simon；　to　accept　from　my　daughter；　as　a
remembrance；　this　likeness　of　her　father；　and　to　drink　to　our　good
health；〃　said　the　queen；　laying　at　the　same　time　a　louis…d'or　in　the
hand　of　her　daughter；　and　hastily　whispering　to　her；　〃Give　it　to
him。〃

The　princess　hastened　to　execute　the　command　of　her　mother；　and　laid
the　glistening　gold　piece　in　the　large；　dirty　hand　which　was
extended　to　her。　But　when　she　wanted　to　draw　back　her　delicate
little　hand；　the　large；　bony　fingers　of　the　cobbler　closed　upon　it
and　held　it　fast。

〃What　a　little　hand　it　is！〃　he　said；　with　a　deriding　laugh；　〃I
wonder　what　would　become　of　these　fingers　if　they　had　to　work！〃

〃Mamma；〃　cried　the　princess；　anxiously；　〃order　the　man　to　let　me　go；
he　hurts　me。〃

The　cobbler　laughed　on；　but　dropped　the　hand　of　the　princess。

〃Ah；〃　cried　he；　scornfully；　〃it　hurts　a　princess　only　to　touch　the
hand　of　a　working　man。　It　would　be　a　great　deal　better　to　keep
entirely　away　from　the　working　people；　and　never　to　come　among　us。〃

〃Drive　forward　quickly！〃　cried　the　queen　to　the　coachman；　with　loud；
commanding　voice。

He　urged　on　the　horses；　and　the　people　who　had　hemmed　in　the
carriage　closely；　and　listened　breathlessly　to　the　conversation　of
the　queen　with　the　cobbler　Simon；　shrank　timidly　back　before　the
prancing　steeds。

The　queen　recovered　her　pleasant；　merry　smile；　and　bowed　on　all
sides　while　the　carriage　rolled　swiftly　forward。　The　people　again
expressed　their　thanks　with　loud　acclamations；　and　praised　her
beauty　and　the　beauty　of　her　children。　But　Marie　Antoinette　was　no
longer　carried　beyond　herself　by　these　words　of　praise；　and　did　not
rise　again　from　her　seat。

While　the　royal　carriage　was　disappearing　in　the　tumult　and　throng
of　the　multitude；　Simon　the　cobbler　stood　watching　it　with　his
mocking　smile。　He　felt　a　hand　upon　his　arm；　and　heard　a　voice　asking
the　scornful　question：

〃Are　you　in　love　with　this　Austrian　woman；　Master　Simon？〃

The　cobbler　quickly　turned　round　to　confront　the　questioner。　He　saw；
standing　by　his　side；　a　little；　remarkably　crooked　and　dwarfed　young
man；　whose　unnaturally　large　head　was　set　upon　narrow；　depressed
shoulders；　and　whose　whole　appearance　made　such　an　impression　upon
the　cobbler　that　the　latter　laughed　outright。

〃Not　beautiful；　am　I？〃　asked　the　stranger；　and　he　tried　to　join　in
the　laugh　of　the　cobbler；　but　the　result　was　a　mere　grimace；　which
made　his　unnaturally　large　mouth；　with　its　thick；　colorless　lips；
extend　from　one　ear　to　the　other；　displaying　two　fearful　rows　of
long；　greenish　teeth。

〃Not　beautiful　at　all；　am　I？　Dreadfully　ugly！〃　exclaimed　the
stranger；　as　Simon's　laughter　mounted　higher　and　higher。

〃You　are　somewhat　remarkable；　at　least；〃　replied　the　cobbler。　〃If　I
did　not　hear　you　talk　French；　and　see　you　standing　up　straight　like
one　of　us；　I　should　think　you　were　the　monstrous　toad　in　the　fable
that　I　read　about　a　short　time　ago。〃

〃I　am　the　monstrous　toad　of　the　fable；〃　replied　the　stranger；
laughing。　〃I　have　merely　disguised　myself　today　as　a　man　in　order　to
look　at　this　Austrian　woman　with　her　young　brood；　and　I　take　the
liberty　of　asking　you　once　more；　Have　you　fallen　in　love　with　her？〃

〃No；　indeed；　I　have　not　fallen　in　love　with　her；〃　ejaculated　the
cobbler。　〃God　is　my　witness〃

〃And　why　should　you　call　God　to　witness？〃　asked　the　other；　quickly。
〃Do　you　suppose　it　is　so　great　a　misfortune　not　to　love　this
Austrian？〃

〃No；　I　certainly　do　not　believe　that；〃　answered　the　other；
thoughtfully。　〃I　suppose　that　it　is；　perhaps；　no　sin　before　God　not
to　love　the　queen；　although　it　may　he　before　man；　and　that　it　is　not
the　first　time　that；　it　has　been　atoned　for　by　long　and　dreary
imprisonment。　But　I　do　love　freedom；　and　therefore　I　shall　take　care
not　to　tell　a　stranger　what　I　think。〃

〃You　love　freedom！〃　exclaimed　the　stranger。　〃Then　give　me　your　hand；
and　accept　my　thanks　for　the　word；　my　brother。〃

〃Your　brother！〃　replied　the　cobbler；　astounded。　〃I　do　not　know　you；
and　yet　you　call　yourself；　without　more　formal　introduction；　my
brother。〃

〃You　have　said　that　you　love　fr