marie antoinette and her son-第49章

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〃Oh；　mamma；　my　dear　mamma　queen；〃　said　the　prince；　in　the　most
caressing　way；　〃I　have　been　very　industrious　to…day；　the　abbe　was
satisfied　with　me；　and　praised　me；　because　I　wrote　well　and　learned
my　arithmetic　well。　Won't　you　give　me　a　reward　for　that；　mamma
queen？〃

〃What　sort　of　a　reward　do　you　want；　my　child？〃　asked　the　queen；
smiling。

〃Say；　first；　that　you　will　give　it。〃

〃Well；　yes；　I　will　give　it；　my　little　Louis；　now　tell　me　what　it
is。〃

〃Mamma　queen；　I　want　you　to　sing　your　little　Louis　a　song；　and；〃　he
added；　nodding　at　the　two　ladies；　〃that　you　allow　these　friends　of
mine　to　hear　it。〃

〃Well；　my　child；　I　will　sing　for　you；〃　answered　Marie　Antoinette；
〃and　our　good　friends　shall　hear　it。〃

The　countenance　of　the　boy　beamed　with　pleasure；　with　alacrity　he
rolled　an　easy…chair　up　to　the　piano；　and　took　his　seat　in　it　in　the
most　dignified　manner。

Madame　Elizabeth　seated　herself　near　him　on　a　tabouret；　and　Madame
de　Tourzel　leaned　on　the　back　of　the　dauphin's　chair。

〃Now　sing；　mamma；　now　sing；〃　asked　the　dauphin。

Marie　Antoinette　played　a　prelude；　and　as　her　eyes　fell　upon　the
group　they　lighted　up　with　joy；　and　then　turned　upward　to　God　with　a
look　of　thankfulness。

A　few　minutes　before　she　had　felt　alone　and　sad：　she　had　thought　of
absent　friends　in　bitter　pain；　and　now；　as　if　fate　would　remind　her
of　the　happiness　which　still　remained　to　her；　it　sent　her　the　son
and　the　sister…in…law；　both　of　whom　loved　her　so　tenderly；　and　the
gentle　and　affectionate　Madame　de　Tourzel；　whom　Marie　Antoinette
knew　to　be　faithful　and　constant　unto　death。

The　flatterers　and　courtiers；　the　court　ladies　and　cavaliers；　are　no
longer　in　the　music…room；　the　enraptured　praises　no　longer　accompany
the　songs　of　the　queen；　but；　out　of　the　easy…chair；　in　which　the
Duchess　de　Polignac　had　sat　so　often；　now　looks　the　beautiful　blond
face　of　her　son；　and　his　beaming　countenance　speaks　more　eloquently
to　her　than　the　flatteries　of　friends。　On　the　tabouret；　now　occupied
by　her　sister…in…law；　Madame　Elizabeth；　De　Dillon　has　often　satthe
handsome　Dillon；　and　his　glowing；　admiring　looks　have　often；
perhaps；　in　spite　of　his　own　will；　said　more　to　the　queen　than　she
allowed　herself　to　understand；　as　her　heart　thrilled　in　sweet　pain
and　secret　raptures　under　those　glances！　How　pure　and　innocent　is
the　face　which　now　looks　out　from　this　chairthe　face　of　an　angel
who　bears　God　in　his　heart　and　on　his　countenance。

〃Pray　for　me；　pray　that　God　may　let　me　drink　of　Lethe；　that　I　may
forget　all　that　has　ever　been！　Pray　that　I　may　be　satisfied　with
what　remains；　and　that　my　heart　may　how　in　humility　and　patience！〃

Thus　thought　the　queen　as　she　began　to　sing；　not　one　of　her　great
arias　which　she　had　studied　with　Garat；　and　which　the　court　used　to
applaud；　but　one　of　those　lovely　little　songs；　full　of　feeling　and
melody；　which　did　not　carry　one　away　in　admiration；　but　which　filled
the　heart　with　joy　and　deep　emotion。

With　suspended　breath；　and　great　eyes　directed　fixedly　to　Marie
Antoinette；　the　dauphin　listened；　but　gradually　his　eyes　fell；　and
motionless　and　with　grave　face　the　child　sat　in　his　arm…chair。

Marie　Antoinette　saw　it；　and　began　to　sing　one　of　those　cradle…songs
of　the　〃Children's　Friend；〃　which　Berquin　had　written；　and　Gretry
had　set　to　music　so　charmingly。

How　still　was　it　in　the　music…room；　how　full　and　touching　was　the
voice　of　the　queen　as　she　began　the　last　verse：

〃Oh；　sleep；　my　child；　now　so　to　sleep。　Thy　crying　grieves　my　heart；
Thy　mother；　child；　has　cause　to　weep；　But　sleep　and　feel　no　smart。〃
＇Footnote：　〃Dors；　mon　enfant；　clos　ta　paupiere；　Tes　cris　me
dechirent　la　coeur；　Dors；　mon　enfant；　ta　pauvre　more　A　bien　assez　de
sa　douleur。〃＇

All　was　still　in　the　music…room　when　the　last　words　were　sung；
motionless；　with　downcast　eyes；　sat　the　dauphin　long　after　the　sad
voice　of　the　queen　had　ceased。

〃Ah；　see；〃　cried　Madame　Elizabeth；　with　a　smile；　〃I　believe　now　our
Louis　has　fallen　asleep。〃

But　the　child　quickly　raised　his　head　and　looked　at　the　smiling
young　princess　with　a　reproachful　glance。

〃Ah；　my　dear　aunt；〃　cried　he；　reprovingly；　〃how　could　any　one　sleep
when　mamma　sings？〃　＇Footnote：　The　dauphin's　own　words。See
Beauchesne；　vol。　i。；　p。　27。＇

Marie　Antoinette　drew　the　child　within　her　arms；　and　her　countenance
beamed　with　delight。　Never　had　the　queen　received　so　grateful　a
compliment　from　the　most　flattering　courtier　as　these　words　of　her
fair…haired　boy　conveyed；　who　threw　his　arms　around　her　neck　and
nestled　up　to　her。

The　Queen　of　France　is　still　a　rich；　enviable　woman；　for　she　has
children　who　love　her；　the　Queen　of　France　ought　not　to　look　without
courage　into　the　future；　for　the　future　belongs　to　her　son。　The
throne　which　now　is　so　tottering　and　insecure；　shall　one　day　belong
to　him；　the　darling　of　her　heart；　and　therefore　must　his　mother
struggle　with　all　her　power；　and　with　all　the　means　at　her　command
contend　for　the　throne　for　the　Dauphin　of　France；　that　he　may
receive　the　inheritance　of　his　father　intact；　and　that　his　throne
may　not　in　the　future　plunge　down　into　the　abyss　which　the
revolution　has　opened。

No；　the　dauphin；　Louis　Charles；　shall　not　then　think　reproachfully
of　his　parents；　he　shall　not　have　cause　to　complain　that　through
want　of　spirit　and　energy　they　have　imperilled　or　lost　the　sacred
heritage　of　his　fathers。

No；　Queen　Marie　Antoinette　may　not　halt　and　lose　courage；not　even
when　her　husband　has　done　so；　and　when　he　is　prepared　to　humbly　bow
his　sacred　head　beneath　that　yoke　of　revolution；　which　the　heroes
and　orators　selected　by　the　nation　have　wished　to　put　upon　his　neck
in　the　name　of　France。

This　makes　hers　a　double　duty；　to　be　active；　to　plan；　and　work；　to
keep　her　head　erect；　and　look　with　searching　eye　in　all　directions
to　see　whence　help　and　deliverance　are　to　come。

Not　from　without　can　they　come；　not　from　foreign　monarchs；　nor　from
the　exiled　princes。　Foreign　armies　which　might　march　into　the
country　would　place　the　king；　who　had　summoned　them　to　fight　with
his　own　people；　in　the　light　of　a　traitor；　and　the　moment　that　they
should　pass　the　frontiers　of　France；　the　wrath　of　the　nation　would
annihilate　the　royal　couple。

Only　from　those　who　had　called　down　the　danger　could　help　come。　The
chiefs　of　the　revolution；　the　men　who　had　raised　their　threatening
voices　against　the　royal　couple；　must　be　won　over　to　become　the
advocates　of　royalty。　And　who　was　more　　　powerful；　who　　more
conspicuous　among　all　these　chiefs　of　the　revolution；　and　all　the
orators　of　the　National　Assembly；　than　Count　Mirabeau！

When　he　ascended　the　Speaker's　tribune　of　the　National　Assembly　all
were　silent；　and　even　his　opponents　listened　with　respectful
attention　to　his　words；　which　found　an　echo　through　all　France；　when
he　spoke；　when　from　his　lips　the　thunder　of　his　speeches　resounded；
the　lightning　flashed　in　his　eyes；　and　his　head　was　like　the　head　of
a　lion；　who；　with　the　shaking　of　his　mane　and　the　power　of　his
anger；　destroyed　every　thing　which　dared　to　put　itself　in　his　way。
And　the　French　nation　loved　this　lion；　and　listened　in　reverential
silence　to　the　thunder　of　his　speech；　and　the　throne　shook　before
him。　And　the　excitable　populace　shouted　with　admiration　whenever
they　saw　the　lion；　and　deified　that　Count　Mirabeau；　who；　with　his
powerul；　lace…cuffed　hand；　had　thrust　these　words　into　the　face　of
his　own　caste：　〃They　have　done　nothing　more　than　to　give　themselves
the　trouble　to　be　born。〃

The　people　loved　this　aristocrat；　who　was　abhorred　by　his　family　and
the　men　of　his　own　rank；　this　count　whom；　the　nobility　hated　because
the　Third　Estate　loved　him。




CHAPTER　XVII。

MIRABEAU。


〃Count　Mirabeau　must　be　won　over；〃　Count　de　la　Marck　ventured　to　say
one　day　to　Marie　Antoinette。　〃Count　Mirabeau　is　now　the　mightiest
man　in　France；　and　he　alone　is　able　to　bring　the　nation　back　again
to　the　throne。〃

〃It　is　he；〃　replied　the　queen；　with　a　glow；　〃who　is　most　to　blame
for　alienating　the　nation　from　the　throne。　Never　will　the　renegade
count　be　forgiven！　Never　can　the　king　stoop　so　low　as　to　pardon　this
apostate；　who　frivolously　professes　the　new　religion　of　'liberty；'
and　disowns　the　faith　of　his　fathers。〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　replied　Count　de　la　Marck；　with　a　sigh；　〃it　may　be
that　in　the　hand　of　this　renegade　lies　the　future　of　your　son。〃

The　queen　trembled；　and　the　proud　expression　on　her　features　was
softened。

〃The　future　of　my　son？〃　said　she。　〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？　What
has　Count　Mirabeau　to　do　with　the　dauphin？　His　wrath　follows　us
only；　his　hatred　rests　upon　us　alone！　I　grant　that　at　present　he　is
powerful；　but　over　the　future　he　has　no　sway。　I　hope；　on　the
contrary；　that　the　future　will　avenge　the　evil　that　Mirabeau　does　to
us　in　the　present。〃

〃But　how　does　it　help；　madame；　if　vengeance　hurries　him　on？〃　asked
Count　de　la　Marck；　sadly。　〃The　temple　which　Samson　pulled　down　was
not　built　again；　that　Samson　might　be　taken　from　its　ruins；　it
remained　in　its　dust　and　fragments；　and　its　glory　was　gone　forever。
Oh；　I　beseech　your　majesty；　do　not　listen　to　the　voice　of　your
righteous　indignation；　but　only　to　the　voice　of　prudence。　Master
your　noble；　royal　heart；　and　seek　to　reconcile　your　adversaries；　not
to　punish　them！〃

〃What　do　you　desire　of　me？〃　asked　Marie　Antoinette；　in　amazement。
〃What　shall　I　do？〃

〃Your　majesty　must　chain　the　lion；〃　whispered　the　count。　〃Your
majesty　must　have　the　grace　to　change　Mirabeau　the　enemy　into
Mirabeau　the　devoted　ally　and　friend！〃

〃Impossible；　it　is　impossible！〃　cried　the　queen；　in　horror。　〃I
cannot　descend　to　this。　I　never　can　view　with　friendly　looks　this
monster　who　is　accountable　for　the　horrors　of　those　October　days。　I
can　only　speak　of　this　man；　who　has　created　his　reputation　out　of
his　crimes；　who　is　a　faithless　son；　a　faithless　husband；　a　faithless
lover；　a　faithless　aristocrat；　and　a　faithless　royalistI　can　only
speak　of　him　in　words　of　loathing；　scorn；　and　horror！　No；　rather　die
than　accept　assistance　from　Count　Mirabeau！　Do　you　not　know；　count；
that　he　honors　me　his　queen　with　his　enmity　and　his　contempt？　Is　it
not　Mirabeau　who　caused　the　States…General　to　accept　the　words　'the
person　of　the　king　is　inviolable；'　and　to　reject　the　words　'and　that
of　the　queen？'　Was　it　not　Mirabeau　who　once；　when　my　friends
exhorted　him　to　moderation；　and　besought　him　to　soften　his　words
about　the　Queen　of　France；　had　the　grace　to　answer　with　a　shrug；
'Well；　she　may　keep　her　life！'　Was　it　not　Mirabeau　who　was　to　blame
for　the　October　days？　Was　it　not　Mirabeau　who　publicly　said：　'The
king　and　the　queen　are　lost。　The　people　hate　them　so；　that　they
would　even　destroy　their　corpses？'〃　＇Footnote：　The　queen's　own
words。See　Goncourt；　〃Marie　Antoinette；〃　p。　305。＇

〃Your　majesty；　Mirabeau　said　that；　not　as　a　threat；　but　out　of　pity；
and　deep　concern　and　sympathy。〃

〃Sympathy！〃　repeated　the　queen；　〃Mirabeau；　who　hates　us！〃

〃No；　your　majesty；　Mirabeau；　who　honors　his　queen；　who　is　ready　to
give　his　life　for　you　and　for　the　monarchy；　if　your　majesty　will
forgive　him　and　receive　him　as　a　defender　of　the　throne！〃

The　queen　shuddered；　and　looked　in　astonishment　and　terror　at　the
excited　f