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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
before us； we will enjoy it like two young girls who are celebrating
the birthday of their grandmother after escaping from a boarding
school。 Let us see which of us is the swiftest of foot。 We will make
a wager on it。 See； there gleams our little house out from the
shrubbery； let us see which of us gets there first。〃
〃Without stopping once in the run？〃 asked the duchess； amazed。
〃I make no conditions； I only say； let us see who gets there first。
If you win； Julia； I will give you the privilege of nominating a man
to have the first place in my Swiss guards； and you may select the
protege in whose behalf you were pleading yesterday。 Come； let us
run。 One！〃
〃No； Marie；〃 interrupted the duchess。 〃Supposing that you are the
first； what shall I give you？〃
〃A kissa hearty kissJulia。 Now； forward！ One； two； three！〃
And； speaking these words in merry accents； Marie Antoinette sprang
forward along the narrow walk。 The round straw hat which covered her
head was tossed up on both sides； the blue ribbons fluttered in the
wind； the white dress puffed up； and the grand chamberlain of the
queen and Madame Adelaide would have been horrified if they could
have seen the queen flying along like a girl escaped from the
boarding…school。
But she； she never thought of there being any thing improper in the
run； she looked forward to the goal with laughing glances； as the
white house emerged more and more from the verdure by which it was
surrounded； and then sideways at her friend； who had not been able
to gain a single step upon her。
〃Forward； forward！〃 shouted the queen； 〃I will and I must win； for
the prize is a kiss from my Julia。〃 And with renewed speed the queen
dashed along。 The lane opened and terminated in a square in front of
the palace。 The queen stopped in her course； and turned round to see
her friend； who had been left far behind her。
As soon as the duchess saw it she tried to quicken her steps； and
began to run again； but Marie Antoinette motioned with her hand； and
went rapidly back to meet her。
〃You shall not make any more effort； Julia；〃 said she。 〃I have won；
and you cannot bring my victory into question。〃
〃And I do not wish to；〃 answered the duchess； with a merry look of
defiance on her gentle features。 〃I really did not wish to win； for
it would have seemed as if I had to win what I want on the turn of a
merry game。 You have done wrong； Marie Antoinette。 You want me to
forget here in Trianon that you are the Queen of France。 But you
yourself do not forget it。 Only the queen can propose such a prize
as you have set； and only the queen can ask so insignificant a boon
on the other side。 You have made it impossible for me to win； for
you know well that I am not selfish。〃
〃I know it； and that is just the reason why I love you so dearly；
Julia。 I have done wrong；〃 she went on to say with her gentle； sweet
voice。 〃I see it； and I beg your forgiveness。 Give me now as a proof
that you do forgive me； give me the prize which I have wona kiss；
Julia； a kiss。〃
〃Not here；〃 answered the duchess。 〃O； no； not here； Marie。 Do not
you see that the doors of the saloons are open； and that your
company are all assembled。 They would all envy me； they would all be
jealous if they were to see the preference which you show for me。〃
〃Let them be jealous； let them envy you；〃 cried the queen； 〃the
whole world shall know that Julia de Polignac is my best…loved
friend； that next to husband and children； I love no one so well as
her。〃
With gentle violence the queen threw both her arms around the neck
of the duchess； and kissed her passionately。
〃Did you notice；〃 said the Baron de Besenval to Lord Adhemar； with
whom he was playing a game of backgammon in the saloon； 〃did you
notice the tableau that the queen is presenting； taking for her
theme a group representing Friendship？〃
〃I wish it were in my power to reproduce this wonderful group in
marble；〃 answered Lord Adhemar； laughing。 〃It would be a companion
piece to Orestes and Pylades。〃
〃But which；〃 asked the Duchess de Guemene； looking up from