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de Polignac had sought in vain to cheer her friend with light and
pleasant talk； and drive away the clouds from her lofty brow。 Marie
Antoinette had only responded by enforced smiles and half…words； and
then； settling back into the carriage； had gazed with dreamy looks
into the heavens； whose cheerful blue called out no reflection upon
the fair face of the queen。
As they drew into the great court of the palace at Versailles； the
drum…beat of the Swiss guards； presenting arms； and the general stir
which followed the approach of the queen； appeared to awaken her
from her sorrowful thoughts； and she straightened herself up and
cast her glances about。 They fell quite accidentally upon the child
which was in the arms of the nurse opposite； and which； with great
wide…open eyes； was looking up to the heavens； as its mother had
done before。
In the intensity of her motherly love； the queen stretched out her
arms to the child and drew it to her heart； and pressed a burning
kiss upon its lips。
〃Ah！ my child； my dear child；〃 said she； softly； 〃you have to…day；
for the first time； made your entry into Paris； and heard the
acclamations of the people。 May you； so long as you live； always be
the recipient of kindly greetings； and never again hear such words
as that dreadful man spoke to us to…day！〃
She pressed the little Duke of Normandy closely to her heart； and
quite forgot that she was all this while in the carriage； that near
the open portal the hostlers and lackeys were awaiting in a
respectful posture the dismounting of the queen； that the drums were
all the while beating； and that the guards were standing before the
gates in the fixed attitude of presenting arms。
The Duchess de Polignac ventured to suggest in softly…spoken words
the necessity of dismounting； and the queen； with her little boy in
her arms； sprang lightly and spiritedly； without accepting the
assistance of the master of the grooms； out of the carriage； smiling
cheerily； greeting the assembled chamberlains as she passed by；
hurried into the palace and ran up the great marble staircase。 The
Duchess de Polignac made haste to follow her； while the Princess
Therese and the dauphin were received by their dames of honor and
led into their respective apartments。 The Norman nurse； shaking her
head； hurried after the queen； and the chamberlains and both the
maids of honor； shaking their heads； too； followed her into the
great ante…chamber。 After riding out； the queen was in the habit of
dismissing them there； but to…day Marie Antoinette had gone into her
own suite of rooms without saying a word； and the door was already
closed。
〃What shall we do now？〃 asked both the maids of honor of the
cavaliers； and received only a shrug of the shoulders for reply。
〃We shall have to wait；〃 at last said the Marchioness de Mailly。
〃Perhaps her majesty will have the kindness to remember us and to
permit us to withdraw。〃
〃And if she should happen to forget it；〃 answered the Princess de
Chimay； 〃we shall have to stand here the whole day； while the queen
in Trianon is amusing herself with the fantastic pastoral plays。〃
〃Yes； certainly； there is a country festival in Trianon to…day；〃
said the Prince de Castines； shrugging his shoulders； 〃and it might
easily happen that we should be forgotten； and； like the
unforgetable wife of Lot； have to stand here playing the ridiculous
part of pillars of salt。〃
〃No； there comes our deliverance；〃 whispered the Marchioness de
Mailly； pointing to a carriage which just then came rolling across
the broad palace…square。 〃It was yesterday resolved in secret
council at the Count de Provence's； that Madame Adelaide should make
one more attempt to bring the queen to reason； and make her
understand what is becoming and what is unbecoming to a Queen of
France。 Now look you； in accordance with this resolve； Madame
Adelaide is coming to Versailles to pay a visit to her distinguished
niece。〃
Just then the carriage of the Princess Adelaide； daughter of Louis
the Fifteenth； and aunt of Louis the Sixteenth； drove through the
great gate into the guarded vestibule of the palace； two outriders
rode in advance； two lackeys stood on the stand behind the carriage；
and upon the step on each side； a page in richly…embroidered
garments。
Before the middle portal； which could only be used by the royal
family； and which had never been desecrated by the entrance of one
who was 〃lowly…born；〃 the carriage came to a standstill。 The lackeys
hastened to open the gate； and a lady； advanced in years； gross in
form； with an irritable face well pitted with pock…marks； and
wearing no other expression than supercilious pride and a haughty
indifference； dismounted with some difficulty； leaning upon the
shoulder of her page； and toiled up the steps which conducted to the
great vestibule。
The runner sprang before her up the great staircase covered with its
carpets； and with his long staff rapped on the door of the first
antechamber that led to the apartments of the queen。 〃Madame
Adelaide！〃 shouted he with a loud voice； and the lackey repeated it
in the same tone； quickly opening the door of the second
antechamber； and the word was taken up by the chamberlains； and
repeated and carried along where the queen was sitting。
Marie Antoinette shrugged herself together a little at this
announcement； which interrupted her while engaged in charming
unrestrained conversation with the Duchess de Polignac； and a shadow
flitted across her lofty brow。
With fiery quickness she flung her arms around the neck of her
friend； and pressed a kiss upon her lips。 〃Farewell； Julia； Madame
Adelaide is coming： that is just the same as irritation and
annoyance。 She may not bear the least suspicion of this upon her
fine and dearly…loved face； and just because they are not there； I
must tell you； my dear friend； to leave me。 But hold yourself in
readiness； after Madame Annoyance has left me； to ride with me to
Trianon。 The queen must remain here half an hour still； but she will
be rewarded for it； for Marie Antoinette will afterward go with her
Julia to Trianon to spend a half day of pleasure with her husband
and friends。〃
〃And to impart to her friends an eternity of blissful
recollections；〃 said the duchess； with a charming smile； pressing
the hand of the queen to her lips； and taking her leave with
inimitable grace； in order to pass out through the little side…door
which entered the corridor through a porcelain cabinet； intending
then to visit the rooms of the 'children of France。'
At the same moment in which the lofty； dignified form of the duchess
disappeared through the side…door； both wings of the main entrance
were flung open； and the two maids of honor of the queen advanced to
the threshold； and made so deep a reverence that their immense
petticoats expanded like a kettle。 Then they took a step backward；
made another reverence so profound that their heads； bearing
coiffures a foot and a half high； fell upon their breasts。
〃Madame Adelaide！〃 they both ejaculated as with one voice； slowly
straightening themselves up and taking their places at the sides of
the door。
The princess now