marie antoinette and her son-第57章

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forbidden　taking　a　gift　from　his　regiment。　What　is　it？〃

〃Colonel；　we　bring　you　a　set　of　dominoes；〃　said　a　little　officer；
named　Palloy；　who　was　the　speaker　of　the　delegation〃　a　set　of
dominoes　entirely　made　out　of　the　ruins　of　the　Bastile。〃

And　taking　the　wrapper　from　the　white　marble　box；　bound　with　gold；
he　extended　it　to　the　dauphin；　and　repeated　with　a　solemn　face　the
following　lines：

〃Those　gloomy　walls　that　once　awoke　our　fear　Are　changed　into　the
toy　we　offer　here：　And　when　with　joyful　race　the　gift　you　view；
Think　what　the　people's　mighty　love　can　do。〃　＇Footnote：　〃De　ces　aff
reux　cachota；　la　terreur　des　Francais；　Vous　voyez　les　debris
transformes　en　hoohets；　Puissent…ils；　en　servant　aux　jeux　de　votre
enfance；　Du　peuple　vous　prouver　1'amour　et　la　puissance。〃
Beauchesne；　〃Louis　XVD。　Sa　Vie；　sou　Agonie；〃　etc。；　vol。　iv。；　p。
396。＇

Poor　little　dauphin！　Even　when　they　wanted　to　do　him　homage；　they
were　threatening　him；　and　the　present　which　affection　offered　to　the
royal　child　was　at　the　same　time　a　bequest　of　Revolution；　which　even
then　lifted　her　warning　finger；　and　pointed　at　the　past；　when　the
hate　of　the　people　destroyed　those　〃gloomy　walls；〃　which　had　been
erected　by　kingly　power。

In　his　innocence　and　childish　simplicity；　the　dauphin　saw　nothing　of
the　sting　which；　unknown　even　to　the　givers；　lurked　within　this
gift。　He　enjoyed　like　a　child　the　beautiful　present；　and　listened
with　eagerness　while　the　manner　of　playing　the　game　was　described　to
him。　All　the　stones　were　taken　from　the　mantel　of　black　marble　in
the　reception…room　of　Delaunay；　the　governor　of　the　Bastile；　who　had
been　murdered　by　the　people。　On　the　back　of　each　of　these　stones　was
a　letter　set　in　gold；　and　when　the　whole　were　arranged　in　regular
order；　they　formed　the　sentence：　〃Vive　le　Roi；　vive　la　Reine；　et　M。
le　Dauphin。〃　The　marble　of　the　box　was　taken　from　the　altar…slab　in
the　chapel。　In　the　middle　was　a　golden　relief；　representing　a　face。

〃That　is　my　papa　king；〃　cried　the　dauphin；　joyfully；　looking　at　the
representation。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Palloy；　the　speaker　of　the　little　company；　〃every　one
of　us　bears　him　in　his　heart。　And　like　the　king；　you　will　live　for
the　happiness　of　all；　and　like　him　you　will　be　the　idol　of　Prance。
We；　who　shall　one　day　be　French　soldiers　and　citizens；　bring　to　you；
who　will　then　be　our　commander…in…chief　and　king；　our　homage　as　the
future　supporters　of　the　throne　which　is　destined　for　you；　and　which
the　wisdom　of　your　father　has　placed　under　the　unshakable　power　of
law。　The　gift　which　we　offer　you　is　but　small；　but　each　one　of　us
adds　his　heart　to　it。〃　＇Footnote：　The　very　words　of　the　little
officer。＇

〃And　I　give　all　of　you　my　heart　in　return　for　it；〃　cried　the
dauphin；　with　a　joyful　eagerness；　〃and　I　shall　take　great　pains　to
be　good；　and　to　learn　well；　that　I　may　be　allowed　to　amuse　myself
with　playing　dominoes。〃

And　the　little　fellow　fixed　his　large；　blue　eyes　upon　the　queen　with
a　tender　look；　took　her　hand　and　pressed　it　to　his　lips。

〃My　dear　mamma　queen；〃　he　said；　caressingly；　〃if　I　am　real　good；　and
study　hard；　we　can　both　play　dominoes　together；　can't　we？〃

A　sad　smile　played　around　the　lips　of　the　queen；　and　no　one　saw　the
distrustful；　timid　look　which　she　cast　at　the　box；　which　to　her　was
merely　the　memorial　of　a　dreadful　day。

〃Yes；　my　child；〃　she　replied；　mildly；　〃we　will　play　dominoes　often
together；　for　you　certainly　will　be　good　and　industrious。〃

She　controlled　herself　sufficiently　to　thank　the　boys　with　friendly
words　for　the　present　which　they　had　made　to　the　dauphin；　and　then
the　deputation；　accompanied　by　the　king　and　the　little　prince；
withdrew。　But　as　soon　as　they　had　gone；　the　smile　died　away　upon　her
lips；　and　with　an　expression　of　horror　she　pointed　to　the　box。

〃Take　it　awayoh；　take　it　away！〃　she　cried；　to　Madame　de　Tourzel。
〃It　is　a　dreadful　reminder　of　the　past；　a　terrible　prophecy　of　the
future。　The　stones　of　the　Bastile；　which　the　people　destroyed；　lie
in　this　box！　And　the　box　itself；　does　it　not　look　like　a
sarcophagus？　And　this　sarcophagus　bears　the　face　of　the　king！　Oh；
the　sorrow　and　woe　to　us　unfortunate　ones；　who　can　not　even　receive
gifts　of　love　without　seeing　them　obscured　by　recollections　of　hate；
and　who　have　no　joys　that　have　not　bitter　drops　of　grief　mingled
with　them！　The　revolution　sends　us　storm…birds；　and　we　are　to　regard
them　as　doves　bringing　us　olive…branches。　Believe　me；　I　see　into　the
future；　and　I　discern　the　deluge　which　will　drown　us　all！〃




BOOK　IV。


CHAPTER　XIX。

JUNE　20　AND　AUGUST　10；　1792。


Marie　Antoinette　was　right。　The　revolution　was　sending　its　storm…
birds　to　the　Tuileries。　They　beat　with　their　strong　pinions　against
the　windows　of　the　palace；　they　pulled　up　and　broke　with　their　claws
the　flowers　and　plants　of　the　garden；　so　that　the　royal　family　no
longer　ventured　to　enter　it。　But　they　had　not　yet　entered　the　palace
itself；　and　within　its　apartments；　watched　by　the　National　Guard；
the　queen　was　at　least　safe　from　the　insults　of　the　populace。

No；　not　even　there　longer；　for　the　storm…birds　of　the　revolution
beat　against　the　windows；　and　these　windows　had　once　in　a　while　to
be　opened　to　let　in　a　little　sunshine；　and　some　fresh　air。　Marie
Antoinette　had　long　given　up　her　walks　in　the　garden　of　the
Tuileries；　for　the　rabble　which　stood　behind　the　fence　had　insulted
her　so　often　with　cries　and　acts；　that　she　preferred　to　give　up　her
exercise　rather　than　to　undergo　such　contemptuous　treatment。

The　king；　too；　in　order　to　escape　the　scornful　treatment　of　the
populace；　had　relinquished　his　walks；　and　before　long　things　came　to
such　a　pass　that　the　dauphin　was　not　allowed　to　visit　his　little
garden。　Marat；　Santerre；　Danton；　and　Robespierre；　the　great　leaders
of　the　people；　had；　by　their　threats　against　the　royalists　and　their
insurrectionary　movements　among　the　people；　gained　such　power；　that
no　one　ventured　to　approach　the　garden　of　the　prince　to　salute　him；
and　show　deference　to　the　son　of　the　king。　The　little　regiment　had
been　compelled；　in　order　to　escape　the　mockery　and　contempt；　the
hatred　and　persecution　which　followed　them；　to　disband　after　a　few
months；　and　around　the　fence；　when　the　dauphin　appeared；　there　now
stood　none　but　men　sent　there　by　the　revolutionists　to　deride　the
dauphin　when　he　appeared；　and　shout　their　wild　curses　against　the
king　and　queen。

One　day；　when　a　crowd　of　savage　women　stood　behind　the　fence；　and
were　giving　vent　to　their　derision　of　the　queen；　the　poor　dauphin
could　not　restrain　his　grief　and　indignation。　With　glowing　cheeks
and　flaming　eyes　he　turned　upon　the　wild　throng。

〃You　lie　oh；　you　lie！〃　he　cried；　with　angry　voice。　〃My　mamma　queen
is　not　a　wicked　woman；　and　she　does　not　hate　the　people。　My　mamma
queen　is　so　good；　so　good　that〃

His　tears　choked　his　voice；　and　flowed　in　clear　streams　down　over
his　cheeks。　Ashamed；　as　it　were；　of　this　indication　of　weakness；　the
dauphin　dashed　out　of　the　garden；　and　hastened　so　rapidly　to　the
palace　that　the　Abbe　Davout　could　scarcely　follow　him。　Weeping　and
sobbing；　the　dauphin　passed　through　the　corridor；　but　when　they
reached　the　broad　staircase　which　led　to　the　apartments　where　the
queen　lived；　the　dauphin　stopped；　suppressed　his　sobs；　and　hastily
dried　his　eyes。

〃I　will　not　weep　any　more；〃　he　said；　〃it　would　trouble　mamma。　I　beg
you；　abbe；　say　nothing　to　mamma。　I　will　try　to　be　cheerful　and
merry；　for　mamma　queen　likes　much　to　have　me　so。　Sometimes；　when　she
is　sad　and　has　been　weeping；　I　make　believe　not　to　notice　it；　and
then　I　laugh　and　sing；　and　jump　about；　and　then　her　beautiful　face
will　clear　up；　and　sometimes　she　even　smiles　a　little。　So；　too；　I
will　be　right　merry；　and　she　shall　notice　nothing。　You　would　not
suspect　that　I　have　been　weeping；　would　you？〃

〃No；　my　prince；　no　one　would　think　you　had；〃　answered　the　abbe；
looking　with　deep　emotion　into　the　great　blue　eyes　which　the　dauphin
turned　up　to　his　with　an　inquiring　look。

〃Well；　then；　we　will　go　to　my　mamma　queen；〃　cried　the　dauphin；　and
he　sprang　forward　and　opened　the　door　with　a　smile；　and；　half
concealed　behind　the　curtains；　he　asked；　in　a　*jesting　tone；　whether
he　might　have　permission　to　enter　her　majesty's　presence。

Marie　Antoinette　bade　him　heartily　welcome；　and　opened　her　arms　to
him。　The　dauphin　embraced　her　and　pressed　a　glowing　kiss　upon　her
eyes　and　upon　her　lips。

〃You　are　extraordinarily　affectionate　to…day；　my　little　Louis
Charles；〃　said　the　queen；　with　a　smile。　〃What　is　the　cause　of　that？〃

〃That　comes　from　the　fact　that　to…day　I　have　nothing　to　give　you
excepting　kissesnot　a　single　flower。　They　are　all　withered　in　my
garden；　and　I　do　not　like　to　go　there　any　more；　for　there　are　no
more　bouquets　to　pluck　for　my　dear　mamma　queen。　Mamma；　this　is　my
bouquet。〃

And　he　kissed　and　caressed　the　queen　afresh；　and　brought　a　glow　to
her　eyes　and　a　smile　to　her　lips。

〃Come　now；　my　child；　you　see　that　the　abbe　is　waiting；　and　I　believe
it　is　time　for　the　study…hours　to　begin。　〃What　comes　first　to…day？〃

〃We　have　first；　grammar；〃　answered　the　abbe；　laying　the　needful
books　upon　the　little　table　at　which　the　dauphin　always　took　his
lessons　in　the　presence　of　the　queen。

〃Grammar！〃　cried　the　dauphin；　〃I　wish　it　were　history。　That　I　like；
but　grammar　I　hate！〃

〃That　comes　because　you　make　so　many　mistakes　in　it；〃　said　the　abbe；
〃and；　certainly；　grammar　is　very　hard。〃

The　child　blushed。　〃Oh；　it　is　not　on　that　account；〃　he　said。　〃I　do
not　dislike　grammar　because　it　is　hard；　but　merely　because　it　is
tedious。〃

〃And　I　will　wager　that　on　that　account　you　have　forgotten　what　we
went　over　in　our　last　grammar　hour。　We　were　speaking　of　the　three
comparatives。　But　you　probably　do　not　remember　them。〃

〃You　are　mistaken；〃　replied　the　dauphin；　smiling。　〃In　proof；　hear
me。　If　I　say；　'My　abbe　is　a　good　abbe；'　that　is　the　positive。　If　I
say；　'My　abbe　is　better　than　another　abbe；'　that　is　the　comparative。
And；〃　he　continued；　turning　his　eyes　toward　the　queen　with　an
expression　of　intense　affection；　〃if　I　say；　'My　mamma　is　the　dearest
and　best　of　all　mammas；'　that　is　the　superlative。〃　＇Footnote：　The
dauphin's　own　words。See　Beauchesne's　〃Louis　XVII。；〃　vol。　i。；　p。
133。＇

The　queen　drew　the　boy　to　her　heart　and　kissed　him；　while　her　tears
flowed　down　upon　his　auburn　curls。

On　the　next　day；　at　the　time　of　his　accustomed　walk；　the　queen　went
into　the　dauphin's　room　to　greet　him　before　he　went　into　the　garden。

〃Mamma；　I　beg　your　permission　to　remain　here；〃　said　the　dauphin。　〃My
garden　does　not　please　me　any　longer。〃

〃Why　not；　my　son；〃　asked　Marie　Antoinette；　〃has　any　thing　happened
to　you？〃

〃Yes；　mamma；〃　he　answered；　〃something　has　happened　to　me。　There　are
so　many　bad　people　always　standing　around　the　fence；　and　they　look
at　me　with　such　evil　eyes；　that　I　am　afraid　of　them；　and　they　scold
and　say　such　hard　things。　They　laugh　at　me；　and　say　that　I　am　a
stupid　jack；　a　baker's　boy　that　does　not　know　how　to　make　a　loaf；
and　they　call　me　a　monkey。　That　angers　me　and　hurts　my　feelings；　and
if　I　begin　to　cry　I　am　ashamed　of　myself；　for　I　know　that　it　is　very
silly　to　cry　before　people　who　mean　ill　to　us。　But　I　am　still　a　poor
li