marie antoinette and her son-第6章

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end；　prove　that　it　is　lies　they　tell；　and　no　one　will　give　them
confidence　more。〃

〃Ah！　your　majesty　does　not　know　the　wickedness　of　the　world；〃　sighed
Campan；　sadly。　〃Your　majesty　believes　that　the　good　are　not
cowardly；　and　that　the　bad　are　not　reckless。　Your　majesty　does　not
know　that　the　bad　have　it　in　their　power　to　corrupt　public　opinion；
and　that　then　the　good　have　not　the　courage　to　meet　this　corrupting
influence。　But　public　opinion　is　a　monster　that　brings　the　charge；
passes　judgment；　pronounces　the　sentence；　and　inflicts　the
punishment　in　one　person。　Who　thinks　lightly　of　it；　arrays　against
himself　an　enemy　stronger　than　a　whole　army；　and　less　open　to
entreaty　than　death。〃

〃Ah！〃　cried　the　queen；　raising　her　head　proudly；　〃I　do　not　fear　this
enemy。　She　shall　not　dare　to　attack　me。　She　shall　crouch　and　shrink
before　my　gaze　as　the　lion　does　when　confronted　by　the　eye　of　a
virgin。　I　am　pure　and　blameless。　I　pledged　my　troth　to　my　husband
before　he　loved　me；　and　how　shall　I　now　break　it；　when　he　does　love
me；　and　is　the　father　of　my　dear　children？　And　now；　enough　of　these
disagreeable　things　that　want　to　cast　their　vileness　upon　us！　And
the　sun　is　shining　so　splendidly；　and　they　are　waiting　for　me　in
Trianon！　Come；　Campan；　come；　the　queen　will　take　the　form　of　a　happy
wife。〃

Marie　Antoinette　hastened　before　her　lady…in…waiting；　hurried　into
her　toilet…chamber　in　advance　of　her　lady…in…waiting；　who　followed；
sighing　and　shaking　her　head；　and　endeavored　with　her　own　hands　to
loosen　the　stiff　corset　of　her　robe；　and　to　free　herself　from　the
immense　crinoline　which　imprisoned　her　noble　form。

〃Off　with　these　garments　of　state　and　royal　robes；〃　said　Marie
Antoinette；　gliding　out　of　the　stiff　apparel；　and　standing　in　a
light；　white　undergarment；　with　bare　shoulders　and　arms。　〃Give　me　a
white　percale　dress　and　a　gauze　mantle　with　it。〃

〃Will　your　majesty　appear　again　in　this　simple　costume？〃　asked
Madame　de　Campan；　sighing。

〃Certainly；　I　will；〃　cried　she；　〃I　am　going　to　Trianon；　to　my　much…
loved　country…house。　You　must　know；　Campan；　that　the　king　has
promised　to　spend　every　afternoon　of　a　whole　week　with　me　at
Trianon；　and　that　there　we　are　going　to　enjoy　life；　nature；　and
solitude。　So；　for　a　whole　week；　the　king　will　only　be　king　in　the
forenoon；　and　in　the　afternoon　a　respectable　miller　in　the　village
Trianon。　Now；　is　not　that　a　merry　thought；　Campan？　And　do　you　not
see　that　I　cannot　go　to　Trianon　in　any　other　than　a　light　white
dress？〃

〃Yes；　your　majesty；　I　understand；　but　I　was　only　thinking　that　the
trades…people　of　Lyons　had　just　presented　a　paper　to　your　majesty；
in　which　they　complain　of　the　decadence　of　the　silk　manufacture；
explaining　it　on　the　ground　that　your　majesty　has　a　preference　for
white　clothing；　and　stating　that　all　the　ladies　feel　obliged　to
follow　the　example　of　their　queen；　and　lay　their　silk　robes　aside。〃

〃And　do　you　know；　too；〃　asked　Marie　Antoinette；　〃that　Madame
Adelaide　has　herself　supported　this　ridiculous　paper　of　the　Lyonnese
merchants；　giving　out　that　I　wear　white　percale　because　I　want　to　do
my　brother；　the　Emperor　Joseph；　a　service；　and　so　ordered　these
white　goods　from　the　Netherlands？　Ah；　let　us　leave　these　follies　of
the　wicked　and　the　stupid。　They　shall　not　prevent　my　wearing　white
clothes　and　being　happy　in　Trianon。　Give　me　a　white　dress　quickly；
Campan。〃

〃Pardon；　your　majesty；　but　I　must；　first　summon　the　ladies　of　the
robing…room；〃　answered　Madame　de　Campan；　turning　to　the　door　of　the
sleeping…room。

〃Oh；　why　all　this　parade？〃　sighed　the　queen。　〃Can　I　never　be　free
from　the　fetters　of　all　this　ceremony？　Could　you　not　yourself；
Campan；　put　a　simple　dress　upon　me？〃

〃Your　majesty；　I　am　only　a　poor；　powerless　being；　and　I　fear
enmities。　The　ladies　would　never　forgive　me　if　I　should　encroach
upon　their　rights　and　separate　them　from　the　adored　person　of　the
queen。　It　is　their　right；　it　is　their　duty　to　draw　the　robe　upon　the
person　of　your　majesty；　and　to　secure　your　shoes。　I　beg；　therefore；
your　gracious　permission　to　allow　the　ladies　to　come　in。〃

〃Well；　do　it　then；〃　sighed　the　queen。　〃　Let　me　bear　the　fetters　here
in　Versailles　until　the　last　moment。　I　shall　have　my　compensation　in
Trianon。　Be　assured　I　shall　have　my　compensation　there。〃

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later　the　queen　was　arrayed　in　her　changed
attire；　and　came　out　from　the　toilet…chamber。　The　stiff　crinoline
had　disappeared；　the　whalebone　corset；　with　the　long　projecting
point；　was　cast　aside；　and　the　high　coiffure；　which　Leonard　had　so
elaborately　made　up　in　the　morning；　was　no　more　to　be　seen。　A　white
robe；　decorated　at　the　bottom　with　a　simple　volante；　fell　in　broad
artistic　folds　over　her　noble　figure；　whose　full　proportions　had
been　concealed　by　the　rigid　state　dress。　A　simple　waist　encircled
her　bust；　and　was　held　together　by　a　blue　sash；　which　hung　in　long
ends　at　her　left　side。　Broad　cuffs；　held　together　with　simple；
narrow　lace；　fell　down　as　far　as　the　wrist；　but　through　the　thin
material　could　be　seen　the　fair　form　of　her　beautiful　arms；　and　the
white　triangle　of　gauze　which　she　had　thrown　over　her　naked　neck；
did　not　entirely　veil　the　graceful　lines　of　her　full　shoulders　and
her　noble　bust。　Her　hair；　deprived　of　its　unnatural　disfigurement；
and　almost　entirely　freed　from　powder；　arched　itself　above　her　fine
forehead　in　a　light　toupet；　and　fell　upon　her　shoulders　in　rich
brown　locks；　on　which　only　a　mere　breath　of　powder　had　been　blown。
On　her　arm　the　queen　carried　a　great；　round；　straw　hat；　secured　by
blue　ribbons；　and　over　her　fair；　white　hands　she　had　drawn　gloves　of
black　netting。

Thus；　with　beaming　countenance；　with　blushing　cheeks；　and　with
smiles　curling　around　her　full　red　lips；　thus；　all　innocence；
merriment；　and　cheerfulness；　Marie　Antoinette　entered　the　sitting…
room；　where　the　Duchess　de　Polignac　was　waiting　for　her；　in　an
attire　precisely　like　that　of　the　queen。

The　latter　flew　to　the　duchess　with　the　quickness　of　a　young　girl；
with　the　tenderness　of　a　sister；　and　drew　her　arm　within　that　of　her
friend。

〃Come；　Julia；〃　said　she；　〃let　us　leave　the　world　and　enter
paradise。〃

〃Ah；　I　am　afraid　of　paradise；〃　cried　the　duchess；　with　a　merry
smile。　〃I　have　a　horror　of　the　serpent。〃

〃You　shall　find　no　serpents　there；　my　Julia；〃　said　the　queen；
drawing　the　arm　of　the　duchess　to　herself。　〃Lean　upon　me；　my　friend；
and　be　persuaded　that　I　will　defend　you　against　every　serpent；　and
every　low；　creeping　thing。〃

〃Oh；　I　fear　the　serpent　more　for　my　adored　queen　than　for　myself。
What　is　there　in　me　to　harm？　But　your　majesty　is　exposed　on　every
side　to　attack。〃

〃Oh；　why；　Julia；〃　sighed　the　queen…〃　why　do　you　ad…dress　me　with　the
stiff；　formal　title　of　majesty　when　we　are　alone　together？　Why　do
you　not　forget　for　a　little　etiquette　when　there　is　nobody　by　to
hear　us？〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　laughed　the　duchess；　〃we　are　in　Versailles；　and　the
walls　have　ears。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　cried　the　queen；　with　quickly　restored　merriment；　〃　we
are　here　in　Versailles；　that　is　your　exculpation。　Come；　let　us
hasten　to　leave　this　proud；　royal　palace；　and　get　away　to　the
society　of　beautiful　Nature；　where　there　are　no　walls　to　hear　us；
but　only　God　and　Nature。　Come；　Julia。〃

She　drew　the　duchess　quickly　out　through　the　side　door；　which　led　to
the　little　corridor；　and　thence　to　the　adjacent　staircase；　and　over
the　small　court　to　one　of　the　minor　gates　of　the　palace；　leading　to
the　park。　The　coupe　of　the　queen　was　standing　before　this　door；　and
the　master　of　the　stole　and　the　lackeys　were　awaiting　the　approach
of　the　queen。

Marie　Antoinette　sprang　like　a　gazelle　into　the　carriage；　and　then
extended　her　hand　to　the　duchess　to　assist　her　to　ascend。　〃Forward；
forward！〃　cried　the　queen　to　the　coachman；　〃　and　drive　with　all
haste；　as　if　the　horses　had　wings；　for　I　long　to　fly。　Forward！　oh；
forward！〃




CHAPTER　　　III。

TRIANON


Fly；　ye　steeds；　fly！　Bear　the　Queen　of　France　away　from　the　stiff；
proud　Versailles；　from　the　palaces　of　kings；　where　every　thing
breathes　of　exaltation；　greatness；　and　unapproachableness；　bear　her
to　little；　simple；　pretty　Trianon；　to　the　dream　of　paradise；　where
all　is　innocence；　simplicity；　and　peace；　where　the　queen　may　be　a
woman；　and　a　happy　one；　too；　and　where　Marie　Antoinette　has　the
right　to　banish　etiquette；　and　live　in　accordance　with　her
inclinations；　wishes；　and　humors。

Yes；　truly；　the　fiery　steeds　have　transformed　themselves　into　birds；
they　cut　the　air；　they　scarcely　touch　the　ground；　and　hardly　can　the
driver　restrain　them　when　they　reach　the　fence　which　separates　the
garden　of　Trianon　from　Versailles。

Light　as　a　gazelle；　happy　as　a　young　girl　that　knows　nothing　of　the
cares　and　burdens　of　life；　Marie　Antoinette　sprang　out　of　the
carriage　before　the　chamberlain　had　time　to　open　the　gate　with　its
double　wings；　to　let　the　queen　pass　in　as　a　queen　ought。　Laughing；
she　glided　through　the　little　side　gate；　which　sufficed　for　the　more
unpretending　visitor　of　Trianon；　and　took　the　arm　of　her　friend　the
Duchess　de　Polignac；　in　order　to　turn　with　her　into　one　of　the　side
alleys。　But；　before　doing　so；　she　turned　to　the　chamberlain；　who；
standing　in　a　respectful　attitude；　was　awaiting　the　commands　of　his
mistress。

〃Weber；〃　said　she　to　him；　in　the　pleasant　Austrian　dialect；　the
language　of　her　early　home〃　Weber；　there　is　no　need　for　you　to
follow　us。　The　day　is　yours。　You　are　free；　as　I　am　too。　Meanwhile；
if　yon　meet　his　majesty；　tell　him　that　I　have　gone　to　the　small
palace；　and　that；　if　it　pleases　his　majesty；　he　may　await　me　in　my
little　village　at　the　mill。

〃And　now；　come；　my　Julia；〃　said　she；　turning　to　the　duchess；　and
drawing　her　forward　with　gentle　violence；　〃　now　let　us　be　merry　and
happy。　I　am　no　longer　a　queen；　God　be　thanked！　I　am　neither　more　nor
less　than　anybody　else。　That　is　the　reason　I　was　so　well　pleased　to
come　through　the　small　door　just　now。　Through　a　narrow　gate　alone　we
can　enter　paradise；　and　I　am　entering　paradise　now。　Oh；　do　you　not
see；　my　friend；　that　the　trees；　the　flowers；　the　bushes；　every　thing
here　is　free　from　the　dust　of　earth；　that　even　the　heaven　has
another　color；　and　looks　down　upon　me　brilliant　and　blue；　like　the
eye　of　God？〃

〃It　is　just；〃　answered　the　Duchess　de　Polignac；　〃because　you　are
seeing　every　thing　with　other　eyes；　your　majesty。〃

〃Your　majesty！〃　cried　Marie　Antoinette。　〃You　love　me　no　longer；　your
heart　is　estranged　from　me；　since　you　address　me　with　this　cold
title。　In　Versailles；　you　had　a　valid　plea；　but　here；　Julia；　what
can　you　offer　in　justification？　The　flowers　are　not　listeners；　the
bushes　have　not　ears；　like　the　walls　of　Versailles；　to　spy　out　our
privacy。〃

〃I　say　nothing　for　my　exculpation；〃　answered　the　duchess；　throwing
her　arm　with　a　playful　movement　around　the　neck　of　the　queen；　and
imprinting　a　kiss　upon　the　lofty　brow　of　Marie　Antoinette。　〃I　only
ask　your　pardon；　and　promise　that　I　will　be　obedient　and　not　disturb
my　friend's　dream　of　paradise　all　day　long　by　an　ill…timed　word。　Now
will　you　forgive　me；　Marie？〃

〃With　all　my　soul；　Julia；〃　answered　the　queen；　nodding　to　her　in　a
friendly　way。　〃And　now；　Julia；　as　we　have　a　happy　vacation　day
befo