marie antoinette and her son-第45章

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and　I　hope　that　you　will　also。　And　I　beg　you；　too；〃　she　continued；
in　a　low　voice；　and　with　a　deep　flush　upon　her　face；　〃I　beg　you　to
forgive　me　if　I　have　hitherto　cast　unworthy　reproaches　upon　you。　I
have　lived　through　so　many　sad　and　dreadful　days；　that　it　will　be
set　down　to　my　favor　if　my　nerves　are　agitated　and　easily　excited。　I
shall　probably　learn　to　accept　evil　days　with　calmness；　and　to　bow
my　head　patiently　beneath　the　yoke　which　my　enemies　are　laying　upon
me！　But　still　I　feel　the　injury；　and　the　proud　habits　of　my　birth
and　life　war　against　it。　But　only　wait；　and　I　shall　become
accustomed　to　it。〃

While　saying　this　she　stooped　down　to　the　dauphin　and　kissed　his
golden　hair。　A　tear　fell　from　her　eyes　upon　the　forehead　of　her　son；
and　glittered　there　like　a　star　fallen　from　heaven。　Marie　Antoinette
did　not　see　it；　did　not　know　that　the　tear　which　she　was　trying　to
conceal　was　now　glistening　on　the　brow　of　her　sonon　that　brow
which　was　never　to　wear　any　other　diadem　than　the　one　that　the　tears
of　love　placed　on　his　innocent　head。

〃Heaven　defend　your　majesty　ever　being　compelled　to　become
accustomed　to　insult！〃　cried　Lafayette；　deeply　moved。　〃I　hope　we
have　seen　our　worst　days；　and　that　after　the　tempest　there　will　be
sunshine　and　bright　weather　again。　The　people　will　look　back　with
shame　and　regret　upon　the　wild　and　stormy　scenes　to　which　they　have
allowed　themselves　to　be　drawn　by　unprincipled　agitators；　they　will
bow　in　love　and　obedience　before　the　royal　couple　who；　with　so　much
confidence　and　devotion；　leave　their　beautiful；　retired　home　at
Versailles；　in　order　to　comply　with　the　wish　of　the　people　and　come
to　Paris。　Will　your　majesty　have　the　goodness　to　ask　the　mayor　of
Paris；　and　he　will　tell　you；　madame；　how　deeply　moved　all　the　good
citizens　of　Paris　are　at　the　truly　noble　spirit　which　prompted　you
to　refuse　to　initiate　an　investigation　respecting　the　night　of
horrors　at　Versailles；　and　to　bring　the　ringleaders　to　justice。〃

〃Is　it　true；　M。　de　Bailly？〃　asked　the　queen；　eagerly。　〃Was　my
decision　approved？　Have　I　friends　still　among　the　people　of　Paris？〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　answered　M。　de　Bailly；　bowing　low；　〃all　good
citizens　of　Paris　have　seen　with　deep　emotion　the　noble　resolve　of
your　majesty；　and　in　all　noble　and　true　hearts　the　royal　words　are
recorded　imperishably；　which　your　majesty　spoke　to　the　judges　of　the
Chatelet；　'I　have　heard　all；　seen　all；　and　forgotten　all！'　With
tears　of　deep　feeling；　with　a　hallowed　joy；　they　are　repeated
through　all　Paris；　they　have　become　the　watchword　of　all　the　well…
inclined　and　faithful；　the　evangel　of　love　and　forgiveness　for　all
women；　of　fidelity　and　devotion　for　all　men！　It　has　been　seen　and
confessed　that　the　throne　of　France　is　the　possessor　not　only　of
goodness　and　beauty；　but　of　forgiveness　and　gentleness；　and　that
your　majesty　bears　rightly　the　title　of　the　Most　Christian　Queen。
These　nine　words　which　your　majesty　has　uttered；　have　become　the
sacred　banner　of　all　true　souls；　and　they　will　cause　the　golden　days
to　come　back；　as　they　once　dawned　upon　Paris　when　the　Dauphin　of
France　made　his　entry　into　the　capital；　and　it　could　be　said　with
truth　to　the　future　queen；　Marie　Antoinette；　'Here　are　a　hundred
thousand　lovers　of　your　person。'〃

The　queen　was　no　longer　able　to　master　her　deep　emotion。　She　who　had
had　the　courage　to　display　a　proud　and　defiant　mien　to　her　enemies
and　assailants；　could　not　conceal　the　intensity　of　her　feeling　when
hearing　words　of　such　devotion；　and　uttered　a　cry；　then　choked　with
emotion；　and　at　length　burst　into　a　torrent　of　tears。　Equally
astonished　and　ashamed；　she　covered　her　face　with　her　hands；　but　the
tears　gushed　out　between　her　white　tapering　fingers；　and　would　not
be　withheld。　They　had　been　so　long　repressed　behind　those　proud
eyelids；　that　now；　despite　the　queen's　will；　they　forced　their　way
with　double　power　and　intensity。

But　only　for　a　moment　did　the　proud…spirited　queen　allow　herself　to
be　overcome　by　the　gentle　and　deeply…moved　woman；　she　quickly
collected　herself　and　raised　her　head。

〃I　thank　you；　sir；　I　thank　you；〃　she　said；　breathing　more　freely；
〃you　have　done　me　good；　and　these　tears；　though　not　the　first　which
grief　and　anger　have　extorted；　are　the　first　for　a　long　time　which
have　sprung　from　what　is　almost　joy。　Who　knows　whether　I　shall　ever
be　able　to　shed　such　tears　again！　And　who　knows；〃　she　continued；
with　a　deep　sigh；　〃whether　I　do　not　owe　these　tears　more　to　your
wish　to　do　me　good；　than　to　true　and　real　gains？　I　bethink　me　now
you　say　all　good　citizens　of　Paris　repeat　my　words；　all　the　well…
disposed　are　satisfied　with　my　decision。　But；　ah！　I　fear　that　the
number　of　these　is　very　small；　and　that　the　golden　days　of　the　past
will　never　return！　And　is　not　your　appearance　here　to…day　a　proof　of
this？　Did　you　not　come　here　because　the　people　insult　and　calumniate
me；　and　because　you　considered　it　needful　to　throw　around　me　your
protection；　which　is　now　mightier　than　the　royal　purple　and　the
lilies　of　the　throne　of　France？〃

〃Madame；　time　must　be　granted　to　the　misguided　people　to　return　to
the　right　way；〃　said　Lafayette；　almost　with　a　supplicating　air。
〃They　must　be　dealt　with　as　we　deal　with　defiant；　naughty　children；
which　can　be　brought　back　to　obedience　and　submission　better　by
gentle　speech　and　apparent　concession　than　by　rigidity　and　severity。
On　this　account　I　ventured　to　ask　your　majesty　to　intrust　me　for　a
little　while　with　the　care　of　your　sacred　person；　and；　in　order　that
I　may　satisfy　my　duty；　that　you　would　graciously　appoint　the　time
when　your　majesty　will　take　your　walks　here　in　the　park　and　garden；
so　that　I　can　make　my　arrangements　accordingly。〃

〃In　order　to　make　a　fence　out　of　your　National　Guards；　protected　by
which　the　Queen　of　France　may　not　become　visible　to　the　hate　of　the
people；　and　behind　which　she　may　be　secure　against　the　attacks　of
her　enemies！〃　cried　Marie　Antoinette。　〃No；　sir；　I　cannot　accept
this！　It　shall　at　least　be　seen　that　I　am　no　coward；　and　that　I　will
not　hide　myself　from　those　who　come　to　attack　me！〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　said　Bailly；　〃I　conjure　you；　do　this　out　of
compassion　for　us；　for　all　your　faithful　servants　who　tremble　for
the　peace　and　security　of　your　majesty；　and　allow　M。　de　Lafayette　to
keep　the　brutality　of　the　people　away　from　you；　and　protect　you　in
your　walks。〃

〃Sufficient；　gentlemen；〃　cried　Marie　Antoinette；　impatiently。　〃You
now　know　my　fixed　resolve；　and　it　is　not　necessary　to　discuss　it
further。　I　will　not　hide　myself　from　the　people；　and　I　will　confront
them　under　the　simple　protection　of　God。　Defended　by　Him；　and
sustained　by　the　conviction　that　I　have　not　merited　the　hate　with
which　I　am　pursued；　I　will　continue　to　meet　the　subjects　of　the　king
fearlessly；　with　an　unveiled　head；　and　only　God　and　my　fate　shall
judge　between　me　and　them！　I　thank　you；　gentlemen；　for　your　zeal　and
your　care；　and　you　may　be　sure　that　I　shall　never　forget　it。　But　now
farewell；　gentlemen！　It　is　growing　cold；　and　I　should　like　to　return
to　the　palace。〃

〃Will　your　majesty　not　have　the　kindness　to　allow　us　both　to　mingle
with　your　train；　and　accompany　you　to　the　palace？〃　asked　Lafayette。

〃I　came　hither；　attended　by　only　two　lackeys；　who　are　waiting
outside　the　pavilion；〃　answered　the　queen。　〃You　know　that　I　have
laid　aside　the　court　etiquette　which　used　to　attend　the　queen　upon
her　walks；　and　which　do　not　allow　the　free　enjoyment　of　nature。　My
enemies　charge　me　with　this　as　an　offence；　and　consider　it　improper
that　the　Queen　of　France　should　take　a　walk　without　a　brilliant
train　of　courtiers；　and　like　any　other　human　being。　But　I　think　that
the　people　ought　not　to　be　angry　at　this；　and　they　may　take　it　as　a
sign　that　I　am　not　so　proud　and　unapproachable　as　I　am　generally
believed　to　be。　And　so　farewell；　gentlemen！〃

She　graciously　waved　her　hand　toward　the　door；　and；　with　a　gentle
inclination　of　her　head；　dismissed　the　two　gentlemen；　who；　with　a
sad　bearing；　withdrew；　and　left　the　pavilion。

〃Come；　my　son；〃　said　the　queen；　〃we　will　return　to　the　palace。〃

〃By　the　same　way　that　we　came；　shall　we　not；　mamma？〃　asked　the
dauphin；　taking　the　extended　hand　of　the　queen；　and　pressing　it　to
his　lips。

〃You　will　not　weep　again　if　the　people　shout　and　laugh？〃　asked　Marie
Antoinette。　〃You　will　not　be　afraid　any　more？〃

〃No；　I　will　not　be　afraid　any　more。　Oh；　you　shall　be　satisfied　with
me；　mamma　queen！　I　have　paid　close　attention　to　all　that　you　said　to
the　two　gentlemen；　and　I　am　very　glad　that　you　did　not　allow　M。　de
Lafayette　to　walk　behind　us。　The　people　would　then　have　believed
that　we　are　afraid；　and　now　they　shall　see　that　we　are　not　so　at
all。〃

〃Well；　come；　my　child；　let　us　go；〃　said　Marie　Antoinette；　giving　her
hand　to　her　son；　and　preparing　to　leave　the　pavilion。

But　on　the　threshold　the　dauphin　stopped；　and　looked　imploringly　up
into　the　face　of　his　mother。

〃I　should　like　to　ask　you　something；　mamma　queen。〃

〃Well；　what　is　it；　my　little　Louis？　What　do　you　wish？〃

〃I　should　like　to　have　you　allow　me　to　go　alone；　else　the　people
would　believe　that　I　am　afraid　and　want　you　to　lead　me。　And　I　want
to　be　like　the　Chevalier　Bayard；　about　whom　the　Abbe　talked　with　me
to…day。　I　want　to　be　sans　peur　et　sans　reproche；　like　Bayard。〃

〃Very　well；　chevalier；〃　said　the　queen；　with　a　smile；　〃then　walk
alone　and　free　by　my　side。〃

〃No；　mamma；　if　you　will　allow　me；　I　will　walk　before　you。　The
knights　always　walk　in　advance　of　the　ladies；　so　as　to　ward　off　any
danger　which　may　be　in　the　way。　And　I　am　your　knight；　mamma；　and　I
want　to　be　as　long　as　I　live。　Will　you　allow　it；　my　royal　lady？〃

〃I　allow　it！　So　go　in　front；　Chevalier　Louis　Charles！　We　will　take
the　same　way　back　by　which　we　came。〃

The　dauphin　sprang　over　the　little　square　in　front　of　the　pavilion；
and　down　the　alley　which　led　to　the　Arcadia　Walk　along　the　side　of
the　quay。

Before　the　little　staircase　which　led　up　to　this　walk；　he　stopped
and　turned　his　pretty　head　round　to　the　queen；　who；　followed　by　the
two　lackeys；　was　walking　slowly　and　quietly　along。

〃Well；　Chevalier　Bayard；〃　asked　the　queen；　with　a　smile；　〃what　are
you　stopping　for？〃

〃I　am　only　waiting　for　your　majesty；〃　replied　the　child；　gravely。
〃Here　is　where　my　knightly　service　commences；　for　here　it　is　that
danger　begins。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　the　queen；　as　she　stopped　at　the　foot　of　the
steps　and　listened　to　the　loud　shouting　which　now　became　audible。
〃One　would　think　that　a　storm　had　been　Sweeping　over　the　ocean；
there　is　such　a　thundering　sound。　But　you　know；　my　son；　that　the
storms　lie　in　God's　hand；　and　that　He　protects　those　who　trust　in
Him。　Think　of　that；　my　child；　and　do　not　be　afraid！〃

〃Oh；　I　am　not　afraid！〃　cried　the　boy；　and　he　sprang　up　the　stairs
like　a　gazelle。

The　queen　quickened　her　steps　a　little；　and　seemed　to　be　giving　her
whole　attention　to　her　son；　who　went　before　her　with　such　a　happy
flow　of　spirits；　and　appeared　to　hear　nothing　of　what　was　passing
around　her。　And　yet；　behind　the　fence　which　ran　along　the　left　side
of　the　Arcadia　Walk　all　the　way　to　the　quay；　was　a　dense　mass　of
people；　head　behind　head；　and　all　their　blazing　eyes　were　directed
at　the　qu