“Andwillyourmajestynotgothereto-day？“askedtheduchess。“Itissuchbeautifulweather，thesunshinessosplendidly，andweshallhavesuchaglorioussunset。“
“Aglorioussunset!“repeatedMarieAntoinette，withabittersmile。
“Aqueenisatleastallowedtoseethesungodown；etiquettehasnotforbiddenaqueentoseethesunsetandnightapproach。Butthepoorcreatureisnotallowedtoseethesunrise，andrejoiceinthebeautyofthedawn。Ihaveonce，sinceIwasaqueen，seenthesunrise，andalltheworldcried’Murder，’andcounteditacrime，andallFrancelaughedattheepigramsandjestswithwhichmyfriendspunishedmeforthecrimethatthequeenofFrance，withhercourt，hadseenthesunrise。Andnowyouwanttoallowmetoseeitset，butIwillnot；Iwillnotlookatthissadspectacleofcomingnight。Inmeitisnight，andIfeelthestormswhicharedrawingnigh。Go，Julia，leavemealone，foryoucanseethatthereisnothingtobedonewithmeto-day。Icannotlaugh，Icannotbemerry。Go，formysadnessmightinfectyou，andthatwouldmakemedoublysad。“
Theduchessdidnotreply；sheonlymadeadeepreverence，andwentwithlight，inaudiblestepoverthecarpettothedoor。Thequeen’sfacehadbeenturnedaway，butasthelightsoundofthedoorstruckherear，sheturnedquicklyaroundandsawthatshewasalone。
“Shehasleftme——shehasreallygone，“sighedthequeen，bitterly。