“Andnow，come，myJulia，“saidshe，turningtotheduchess，anddrawingherforwardwithgentleviolence，“nowletusbemerryandhappy。Iamnolongeraqueen，Godbethanked!Iamneithermorenorlessthananybodyelse。ThatisthereasonIwassowellpleasedtocomethroughthesmalldoorjustnow。Throughanarrowgatealonewecanenterparadise，andIamenteringparadisenow。Oh，doyounotsee，myfriend，thatthetrees，theflowers，thebushes，everythinghereisfreefromthedustofearth；thateventheheavenhasanothercolor，andlooksdownuponmebrilliantandblue，liketheeyeofGod？“
“Itisjust，“answeredtheDuchessdePolignac，“becauseyouareseeingeverythingwithothereyes，yourmajesty。“
“Yourmajesty!“criedMarieAntoinette。“Youlovemenolonger；yourheartisestrangedfromme，sinceyouaddressmewiththiscoldtitle。InVersailles，youhadavalidplea；buthere，Julia，whatcanyouofferinjustification？Theflowersarenotlisteners，thebusheshavenotears，likethewallsofVersailles，tospyoutourprivacy。“
“Isaynothingformyexculpation，“answeredtheduchess，throwingherarmwithaplayfulmovementaroundtheneckofthequeen，andimprintingakissupontheloftybrowofMarieAntoinette。“Ionlyaskyourpardon，andpromisethatIwillbeobedientandnotdisturbmyfriend’sdreamofparadisealldaylongbyanill-timedword。Nowwillyouforgiveme，Marie？“
“Withallmysoul，Julia，“answeredthequeen，noddingtoherinafriendlyway。“Andnow，Julia，aswehaveahappyvacationdaybeforeus，wewillenjoyitliketwoyounggirlswhoarecelebratingthebirthdayoftheirgrandmotherafterescapingfromaboardingschool。Letusseewhichofusistheswiftestoffoot。Wewillmakeawageronit。See，theregleamsourlittlehouseoutfromtheshrubbery；letusseewhichofusgetstherefirst。“