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evil forebodings。 She held the dauphin in her arms； and led her
little daughter。 Her eyes； from which the heavy veils of sadness
were now withdrawn； cast joyful glances over the immense； shouting
crowds of people approaching the palace； at whose head she joyfully
recognized her husband； the king； wearing an expression of
cheerfulness which for a time she had not seen on his face。
When the king caught sight of his wife； he hastened to remove his
hat and salute her。 But few of the deputies followed the royal
example； and silently； without any salutation； without any cries of
acclamation； they looked up at the queen。 Marie Antoinette turned
pale； and stepped hack with her children into the hall。
〃It is all over；〃 she said； with a gush of tears； 〃it is all over
with my hopes。 The Queen of France is still to be the poorest and
most unhappy woman in France； for she is not loved； she is
despised。〃
Two soft young arms were laid around her neck； and with a face full
of sorrow； and with tears in his great blue eyes； the dauphin looked
up to the disturbed countenance of his mother。
〃Mamma queen；〃 he whispered； pressing fondly up to her； 〃mamma
queen； I love you and everybody loves you； and my dear brother in
heaven prays for you。〃
With a loud cry of pain； that escaped her against her will； the
queen pressed her son to her heart and covered his head with her
kisses。
〃Love me； my son； love me；〃 she whispered； choking； 〃and may thy
brother in heaven pray for me that I may soon be released from the
pains which I suffer！〃
But as she heard now the voice of the king without； taking leave of
his retinue with friendly words； Marie Antoinette hastily dried her
tears； and putting down the dauphin； whispered to him； 〃Do not tell
papa that I have been crying；〃 and in her wonted lofty bearing； with
a smile upon her trembling lips； she went to meet her husband。
As it grew late and dark in the evening； several baggage…wagons
heavily laden and tightly closed moved noiselessly and hastily from
the inner courts of the palace； and took the direction toward the
country。 In these carriages were the Count d'Artois； the Duke
d'Angouleme； and the Duke de Berry； the Prince de Conde； the Duke de
Bourbon； and the Duke d'Enghein； who were leaving the kingdom in
secret flight。
Louis XVI。 had tried to quiet the anxieties of his brother； the
Count d'Artois； by advising him to leave France for some time； and
to remain in a foreign land； until the times should be more quiet
and peaceful。 The other princes； although not so sorely threatened
with popular rage as the Count d'Artois； whose head had already been
demanded at Paris； had； with the exception of the king's other
brother； been so overcome with their anxieties as to resolve upon
flight。 They were followed on the next day by the new ministers； who
now； yielding to the demands of the National Assembly； had handed in
their resignation to the king； but did not consider it safe to
remain within range of the capital。
But another offering； and one more painful to the queen； had to be
made to the hatred of the people and the hostile demands of the
National Assembly。 Marie Antoinette herself felt it； and had the
courage to express it。
Her friends the Polignacs must be sent away。 In all the libellous
pamphlets which had been directed against the queen； and which
Brienne had sedulously given to her； it was one of the main charges
which had been hurled against her； that the queen had given to her
friends enormous sums from the state's treasury； that the Duchess
Julia； as governess of the royal children； and her husband the Duke
de Polignac； as director of the royal mews； received a yearly salary
of two million francs； and that the whole Polignac family together
drew nearly six million francs yearly from the national treasury。
Marie Antoinette knew that the people hated the Polignacs on this
account； and she wanted at least to put her friends in a place of
safety。
At the same hour in which the brothers of the king and the princes
of the royal family left Versailles； the Duke and the Duchess de
Polignac were summoned to the queen； and Marie Antoinette had told
them with trembling voice that they too must fly； that they must
make their escape that very night。 But the duchess； as well as the
duke； refused almost with indignation to comply with the request of
the queen。 The duchess； who before had been characterized by so calm
a manner； now showed for the first time a glow of affection for her
royal friend； and unreckoning tenderness。 〃Let us remain with you；
Marie；〃 she said； choking； and throwing both her arms around the
neck of the queen。 〃Do not drive me from you。 I will not go； I will
share your perils and will die for you； if it must be。〃
But Marie Antoinette found now in her great love the power to resist
these requeststhe power to hold back the tears which started from
her heart and to withdraw herself from the arms of her friend。
〃It must be；〃 she said。 〃In the name of our friendship I conjure
you； Julia； take your departure at once； for； if you are not willing
to； I shall die with anxiety about you。 There is still time for you
and yours to escape the rage of my enemies。 They hate you not for
your own sake； and how would it be possible to hate my Julia？ It is
for my sake； and because they hate me； that they persecute my
dearest friend。 Go； Julia； you ought not to be the victim of your
friendship for me。〃
〃No； I remain；〃 said the duchess； passionately。 〃Nothing shall
separate me from my queen。〃
〃Duke；〃 implored the queen； 〃speak the word； say that it is
necessary for you to fly！〃
〃Your majesty；〃 replied the duke； gravely； 〃I can only repeat what
Julia says： nothing shall separate us from our queen。 If we have in
the days of prosperity enjoyed the favor of being permitted to be
near your majesty； we must claim it as the highest favor to be
permitted to be near you in the days of your misfortune！〃
Just then the door opened and the king entered。
〃Sire；〃 said the queen； as she advanced to meet him； 〃help me to
persuade these noble friends that they ought to leave us！〃
〃The queen is right；〃 said Louis； sadly； 〃they must go at once。 Our
misfortune compels us to part with all who love and esteem us。 I
have just said farewell to my brother； now I say the same to you； I
command you to go。 Pity us； but do not lose a minute's time。 Take
your children and your servants with you。 Reckon at all times upon
me。 We shall meet again in happier days； after our dangers are past；
and then you shall both resume your old places。 Farewell！ Once more
I command you to go！〃 ＇Footnote： The king's own words。 This intense
parting scene is strictly historical； according to the concurrent
communications of Montjoie in his 〃Histoire de Marie Antoinette。〃
Campan； Mem。； ii。 Weber； Mem。； i。＇
And as the king perceived that the tears were starting into his
eyes； and that his voice was trembling； he silently bowed to his
friends； and hastily withdrew。
〃You have heard what the king commands；〃 said Marie Antoinette；
eagerly； 〃and you will not venture to disobey him。 Hear also this： I
too； the Queen of France；