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waiting without any protection or company for the carriage which was
to take her up； after taking up at another place the king and the
two children。 She recalled the drive in the dark night； the heat in
the close； heavy carriage； the dreadful alarm when suddenly； after a
twelve hours' drive； the carriage broke； and all dismounted to climb
the hill to the village which lay before them； and where they had to
wait till the carriage could be repaired。 Then the journey on； the
delay in Varennea； the cry； 〃They are recognized。〃 Then the
confusion； the march； the anguish of the hours following； and
finally that last hour of hope when； in the poor chamber of the
shopkeeper Sauce； his wife standing near the bed on which the little
prince slept； she conjured his wife to save the king and find him a
hiding…place。 Then she heard again before her ears the woman's hard
voice answering her：
〃Madame； it cannot be； I love my husband； too； and I also have
children； but my husband were lost if I saved yours。〃 Then she heard
afresh the cries； the march； saw the arrival of the Paris regiments
and the deputies whom the National Assembly sent to conduct the
royal refugees back to Paris。 Then she recalled the drive back；
crowded into the carriage with the deputies； and the ribald populace
roaring around。 As she thought of all these things； a shudder ran
through the form of the unhappy queen； and tears streamed
unrestrainedly from her eyes。
But gradually she gained her composure and spirit； and even the
daily humiliation and trials which she encountered awakened in her
the fire and defiance of her earlier days。
The king and the queen were； after their return from Varennes； the
prisoners of their own people； and the Tuileries formed the prison
in which with never…sleeping cruelty the people watched their royal
captives。
The chiefs of the battalions constituting the National Guard took
turns in sentry duty over the royal couple。 They had received the
rigid order to constantly watch the royal family； and not to leave
them for a moment alone。 Even the sleeping…room of the queen was not
closed to the espionage of the guards； the door to the drawing…room
close by had always to be open； and in this drawing…room was the
officer of the guard。 Even in the night； while the queen lay in her
bed； this door remained open； and the officer； sitting in an arm…
chair directly opposite to the door； kept his eyes directed to the
bed in which the queen sought to sleep； and wrestled with the pains
and fear which she was too proud to show to her persecutors。 The
queen had stooped to make but one request； she had asked that at
least in the morning； when she arose and dressed； she might close
the doors of her sleeping…room； and they had been magnanimous enough
to comply with her wish。＇Footnote： 〃Histoire de Marie Antoinette；〃
par Edmondet Jules de Goneourt； p。 861。＇
But Queen Marie Antoinette had met all these humiliations； these
disenchantments； and trials； full of hope of a change in her
fortune。 Her proud soul was still unbroken； her belief in the
victory of monarchy under the favor of God animated her heart with a
last ray of hope； and sustained her amid all her misfortune。 She
still would contend with her enemies for the love of this people； of
whom she hoped that； led astray by Jacobins and agitators； they
would at last confess their error； respect the voice of their king
and queen； and return to love and regretfulness。 And Marie
Antoinette would sustain herself in view of the great day when the
people's love should be given back； she would seek to bring that day
back； and reconcile the people to the throne。 On this account she
would show the people that she cherished no fear of them； that she
would intrust herself with perfect confidence to them； and greet
them with her smiles and all the favor of former days。 She would
make one more attempt to regain her old popularity； and reawaken in
their cold hearts the love which the people had once displayed to
her by their loud acclamations。 She found power in herself to let
her tears flow； not visibly； but within her heart； to disguise with
her smile the pain of her soul； and so she resolved to wear a
cheerful and pleasant face； and appear again publicly in the
theatre； as well as in open carriage…drives through the city。
They were then giving in the great opera…house Gluck's 〃Alceste；〃
the favorite opera of the queenthe opera in which a few years
before she had received so splendid a triumph； in which the public
loudly encored； 〃Chantons； celebrons notre reine！〃 which the choir
had sung upon the stage； and； standing with faces turned toward the
royal box； had mingled their voices with those of the singers； and
repeated in a general chorus； 〃Chantons； celebrons notre reine！〃
〃I will try whether the public remembers that evening；〃 said Marie
Antoinette； with a faint smile； to Mademoiselle de Bugois； the only
lady who had been permitted to remain with her； 〃I will go this
evening to the opera； the public shall at least see that I intrust
myself with confidence to it； and that I have not changed； however
much may have been changed around。〃
Mademoiselle de Bugois looked with deep sadness at the pale face of
the queen； that would show the public that she had not altered； and
upon which； once so fair and bright； grief had recorded its
ineradicable characters； and almost extinguished its old beauty。
Deeply moved； the waiting…lady turned away in order not to let the
tears be seen which； against her will； streamed from her eyes。
But Marie Antoinette had seen them nevertheless。 With a sad smile
she laid her hand upon the shoulder of the lady…in…waiting。 〃Ah！〃
said she； mildly； 〃do not conceal your tears。 You are much happier
than I； for you can shed tears； mine have been flowing almost two
years in silence； and I have had to swallow them！ ＇Footnote： Marie
Antoinette's own words。See Goncourt； p。 264。＇
〃But I will not weep this evening；〃 she continued； 〃I will meet
these Parisians at least in composure。 Yes； I will do more； I will
try to smile to them。 They hate me now； but perhaps they will
remember then that once they truly loved me。 There is a trace of
magnanimity in the people； and my confidence will perhaps touch it。
Be quick； and make my toilet。 I will be fair to…day。 I will adorn
myself for the Parisians。 They will not be my enemies alone who will
be at the theatre； some of my friends will be there； and they at
least will be glad to see me。 Quick； mademoiselle； let us begin my
toilet。〃
And with a liveliness and a zeal which； in her threatened situation；
had something touching in it； Marie Antoinette arrayed herself for
the public； for the good Parisians。
The news that the queen was to appear that evening at the theatre
had quickly run through all Paris； the officer on duty told it at
his relief to some of the guards； they to those whom they met； and
it spread like wildfire。 It was therefore very natural that； long
before the curtain was raised； the great opera…house was completely
filled； parquette； boxes； and parterre； with a passionately…excited
throng。 The friends of the queen went in order to give