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without witnesses。
〃Confess； madame；〃 said one of the deputies to Marie Antoinette； in
a confidential tone； 〃confess that you have experienced great
anxiety。〃
〃No； sir；〃 replied the queen； 〃I have not been anxious； but I have
suffered severely； because I was separated from the king at a moment
when his life was threatened。 I had at least my children with me；
and so could discharge one of my duties。〃
〃I will not excuse every thing that took place to…day；〃 said the
deputy； with a shrug。 〃But confess at least； madame； that the people
conducted themselves very well。〃
〃Sir； the king and I are convinced of the natural good…nature of the
people； they are only bad when they are led astray。〃
Some other deputies approached the dauphin； and directed various
questions to him； in order to convince themselves about his
precocious understanding that was so much talked about。
One of the gentlemen； speaking of the day that had gone by； compared
it with St。 Bartholomew's night。
〃The comparison does not hold；〃 cried another： 〃here is no Charles
the Ninth。〃
〃And no Catherine de Medicis either；〃 said the dauphin； quickly；
pressing the hand of the queen to his lips。
〃Oh！ see the little scholar；〃 cried the by…standers。 〃Let us see
whether he knows as much about geography as about history！〃
And all pressed up to him； to put questions to him about the
situation and boundaries of France； and about the division of the
French territory into departments and districts。 The prince answered
all these questions quickly and correctly。 After every answer he
cast an inquiring glance at the queen； and when he read in her looks
that his answer had been correct； his eyes brightened； and his
cheeks glowed with pleasure。
〃Our dauphin is really very learned；〃 cried one of the deputies。 〃I
should like to know whether he has paid any attention yet to the
arts。 Do you love music； my little prince？〃
〃Ah； sir；〃 answered the dauphin； eagerly； 〃whoever has heard mamma
sing and play； must love music！〃
〃Do you sing too； prince？〃
The dauphin raised his eyes to his mother。 〃Mamma；〃 he asked； 〃shall
I sing the prayer of this morning？〃
Marie Antoinette nodded。 〃Sing it； my son； for perhaps God heard it
this morning； and has graciously answered it。〃
The dauphin sank upon his knees； and folding his hands； he raised
his head and turned his blue eyes toward heaven； and； with a sweet
voice and a mild； smiling look； he sang these words：
〃Ciel； entends la priere Qu'ici je fais； Conserve un si boil pere A
ses sujets。〃 ＇Footnote： See Beauchesne； vol。 i。； p。 146。 This scene
is historical。 Sees Hue； 〃Dernioree Anneesde Louis XVI。〃 This prayer
is from the opera so much admired at that time； 〃Peter the Great〃 〃O
Heaven； accept the prayer； I offer here； Unto his subjects spare My
father dear。〃＇
A deep； solemn silence reigned while the dauphin's voice rang
through the room。 The faces of the deputies； hitherto defiant and
severe； softened； deeply moved。 They all looked at the beautiful
boy； who was still on his knees； his countenance beaming； and with a
smile upon it like the face of one in a blissful dream。 No one
ventured to break the silence。 The king； whose arm was thrown around
the neck of his daughter； looked affectionately at the dauphin；
Madame Elizabeth had folded her hands； and was praying； but Marie
Antoinette； no longer able to control her deep emotion； covered her
face with her hands； and wept in silence。
From this day the life of the royal family was one of constant
excitementan incessant； feverish expectation of coming evil。 The
king bore it all with an uncomplaining resignation； no one drew from
him a complaint； no one a reproach。 But the thought never seemed to
occur to him that perhaps even yet safety might be attained by
energy； by spirit； or even by flight。
He had surrendered all； he was ready to suffer as a Christian
instead of rising as a king； and preferred to fall in honorable
battle rather than to live despised。
Marie Antoinette had given up her efforts to inspire her husband
with her own energetic will。 She knew that all was in vain； and had
accepted her fate。 Since she could not live as a queen； she would at
least die as one。 She made her preparations for this calmly and with
characteristic decision。 〃They will kill me； I know；〃 she said to
her maids。 〃I have only one duty left me； to prepare myself to die！〃
She lost her accustomed spirit； wept much； and exhibited a great
deal of feeling。 Yet she still stood guard over the shattered throne
like a resolute sentinel； and looked around with sharp and searching
glances； to keep an eye on the enemy； and to be ready for his nearer
approach。
She still continued to receive news about every thing that
transpired in Paris； every thing that was resolved upon in the
National Assembly and discussed in the clubs； and had the libels and
pamphlets which were directed at her all sent to her。 Marie
Antoinette understood the condition of the capital and the feeling
of the people better than did the king （who often sat for hours； and
at times whole days； silent and unoccupied） better even than did the
ministers。 She received every morning the reports of the emissaries；
followed the intrigues of the conspirators； and was acquainted with
the secret assemblies which Marat called together； and the alliances
of the clubs。 She knew about the calling together of the forty…eight
sections of the Paris 〃fraternity〃 in one general convention。 She
knew that Potion； Danton； and Manuel； three raving republicans； were
at the head； and that their emissaries were empowered to stir up the
suburbs of the city。 She knew； too； that the monsters from
Marseilles； who had been active on the 20th of June； were boasting
that they were going to repeat the deeds of that day on a greater
scale。
Nor was it unknown to her that more than half the deputies in the
National Assembly belonged to the Jacobin party； and that they were
looking for an opportunity to strike a fresh blow at royalty。 Very
often； when at dead of night Marie Antoinette heard the noisy chorus
of the rioters from Marseilles singing beneath her windows；
〃Allons； enfants de la patrie；〃 or the Parisians chanting the 〃Qa
ira； fa ira！〃 she sprang from her bed （she now never disrobed
herself on retiring）； hurried to the beds of her children to see
that they were not in danger； or called her maids and commanded them
to light the candles； that they might at least see the danger which
threatened。
At last； on the night of the 9th of August； the long…feared terror
arrived。
A gun fired in the court of the Tuileries announced its advent。
Marie Antoinette sprang from her bed； and sent her waiting…maid to
the king to waken him。 The king had already risen； his ministers and
a few tried friends were now with him。 The queen wakened her
children； and assisted in dressing them。 She then went with the
little ones to the king； who received them with an affectionate
greeting。 At length a blast of trumpets announced that the movement
had become general； the thunder of cannon and the peals of bells
awakened the sleeping city。
The royal family； crowded close