Thepeople，delightedwiththisenergeticandcourageousactionofthequeen——thepeople，whowouldhavehowledwithrage，ifthequeenhadorderedherlackeystopushthecobblerback，nowroaredwithadmirationandwithpleasure，toseetheproud-heartedwomanhavetheboldnesstorepeltheassailant，andtofreeherselffromhim。
Theyapplauded，theylaughed，theyshoutedfromthousandsuponthousandsofthroats，“Longlivethequeen!Longlivethedauphin!“
andthecrypassedalonglikewildfirethroughthewholemassofspectatorsbehindthefence，andalleyesfollowedthetallandproudfigureofthequeenasshewalkedaway。
OnlytheeyesofSimonpursuedherwithamaliciousglare，andhisclinchedfiststhreatenedherbehindherback。
“Sheshallpayforthis!“hemuttered，withawitheringcurse。“Shehasstruckbackmyhandto-day，butthedaywillcomewhenshewillfeelituponherneck，andwhenIwillsqueezethehandofthelittlerascalsothatheshallcryoutwithpain!Ibelievenow，whatMarathassooftentoldme，thatthetimeofvengeanceiscome，andthatwemustbringthecrowndownandtreaditunderourfeet，thatthepeoplemayrule!Iwillhavemyshareinit。Iwillhelpbringitdown，andtreaditunderfoot。IhatethehandsomeAustrianwoman，whoperksuphernose，andthinksherselfbetterthanmywife；andifthegoldentimehascomeofwhichMaratspeaks，whenthepeoplearethemaster，andthekingistheservant，MarieAntoinetteshallbemywaiting-maid，andhersonshallbemychoreboy，andhisbuckleshallmakeacquaintancewithmyshoe-
straps!“
AndwhileMasterSimonwasmutteringthistohimself，hewasmakingawaythroughthecrowdwiththosegreatelbowsofhis，aslippingalongthefence，tobeabletofollowaslongaspossiblethetallfigureofthequeen，whowasnowleadingthedauphinbythehand，traversingtheArcadianWalk。Attheendofitwasthefencewhichledintothelittlegardenreservedfortheroyalfamily。Throughtheirongate，hardby，adornedwiththearmsofthekingsofFrance，MarieAntoinetteenteredanasylum，whichhadbeensavedtothecrown，freefromtheintrusionofthepeople，andshedrewafreebreathwhenoneofthelackeysclosedthegate，andsheheardthekeygrateinthelock。
Shestoodstillamomenttoregainhercomposure，andthenshefeltthatherfeetweretrembling，andthatshescarcelyhadthepowertogofarther。Itwouldhavebeenarelieftohertohavefallenthereuponherknees，andpouredallhersorrowsandtrialsintotheearofGod。Buttherewerethelackeysbehindher；therewasherlittleson，lookinguptoherwithhisgreateyes；andtherewasthatdreadfulcrycomingupfromthequayliketheroaringofthesea。
Thequeencouldnotutterawordofgrieforsorrow，shecouldnotsinktothegroundinherweakness；shehadtoshowacheerfulfacetoherson，andaproudbrowtoherservants。Godonlycouldlookintoherheartandseethetearswhichglowedtherelikeburningcoals。Yetinallhersadnessshehadafeelingoftriumph，ofproudsatisfaction。Shehadpreservedherfreedom，herindependence；shewasnotLafayette’sprisoner!No，theQueenofFrancehadnotputherselfundertheprotectionofthepeople’sgeneral；shehadnotgivenhimthepowerofwatchingherwithhishatedNationalGuard，andofsayingtothem：“Atthisorthathourthequeentakesherwalks，and，thatshemayrecreateherself，wewillprotectheragainsttherageofthepeople!“
No，shehaddefendedherself，shehadremainedthequeenallthewhile，thefreequeen，andshehadgainedavictoryoverthepeoplebyshowingthemthatshedidnotfearthem。
“Mamma，“criedthedauphin，interruptingherinherpainfulandproudthought——“mamma，therecomestheking，therecomesmypapa!
Oh，hewillbegladtohearthatIwassocourageous!“
Thequeenquicklystoopeddownandkissedhim。“Yes，truly，mylittleBayard，yonhavedonehonortoyourgreatexemplar，andyouhavereallybeenalittlechevaliersanspeuretsansreproche。But，mychild，truebraverydoesnotgloryinitsgreatdeeds，anddoesnotdesireotherstoadmirethem，butkeepssilentandleavesittootherstotalkaboutthem!“
“Mamma，Iwillbesilent，too，“criedtheboy，withglowingeyes。
“Oh，youshallseethatIcanbesilent，andnottalkatallaboutmyself。“
Thekingmeanwhile，followedbysomegentlemenandservants，wascomingforwardwithunaccustomedhaste，and，inhiseagernesstoreachhiswife，hehadnotnoticedthebeds，butwastreadingunderfootthelastfadingflowersofautumn。
“Youarehereatlast，Marie，“saidhe，whenhewasnearenoughtospeak。“Iwantedtogotomeetyou，toconductyouhitheroutofthepark。Youweregoneverylong，andIworriedaboutyou。“
“Whyworried，sire？“askedthequeen。“Whatdangercouldthreatenmeinourgarden？“
“Donotseektohideanythingfromme，Marie，“saidLouis，withasigh。“Iknoweverything!Thehateofthepeopledeniesusanylongertheenjoymentoftheopenair!LafayetteandBaillywerewithmeaftertheyweredismissedbyyou。Theytoldmethatyouhadgivennofavortotheirunitedrequest，andthatyouwouldnotgranttoGeneralLafayettetherighttoprotectyouwhileyouaretakingyourwalks。“
“Ihopeyourmajestyissatisfiedwithme，“answeredMarieAntoinette。“Youfeel，likeme，thatitisanewhumiliationforusifwearetoallowourveryenjoymentofnaturetobeunderthecontrolofthepeople’sgeneral，andifeventheairisnolongertobethefreeairforus!“
“Ihaveonlythoughtthatinsuchunguardedwalksyouwouldbethreatenedwithdanger，“answeredtheking，perplexed。“Lafayettehaspaintedtomeinsuchdarkanddreadfulcolors，andIhavesopainfullyhadtoconfessthathespeaksthetruth，thatIcouldonlythinkofyoursafety，andtakenootherpointofviewthantoseeyoushelteredfromtheattacksofyourenemies，andfromtherageofthesefactions。IhavethereforeapprovedLafayette’sproposal，andallowedhimtoprotectyourmajestyonyourwalks。“
“Butyouhavenotfixeddefinitehoursformywalks？Youhavenotdonethat，sire，haveyou？“
“Ihaveindeeddonethat，“answeredtheking，gently。“Iamfamiliarwithyourhabits，andknowthatinautumnandwinteryouusuallytakeyourwalksbetweentwelveandtwo，andinsummerafternoonsbetweenfiveandseven。IhavethereforenamedthesehourstoGeneralLafayette。“
Thequeenheavedadeepsigh。“Sire，“shesaid，softly，“youyourselfarebindingtighterandtighterthechainsofourimprisonment。To-dayyoulimitourfreedomtotwopoorhours，andthatwillbeaprecedentforotherstocontinuewhatyouhavebegun。
WeshallafterthiswalkfortwohoursdailyundertheprotectionofM。deLafayette，buttherewillcomeatimewhenthisprotectionwillnotsuffice，andnosecuritywillbegreatenoughforus。Fortheroyalauthoritywhichshowsitselfweakanddependent，andwhichdoesnotdrawpowerfromitself——theroyaltywhichsuffersitscrowntobeborneupforitbythehandsofothers，confessestherebythatitistooweaktobeartheburdenitself。Oh，sire，Iwouldratheryouhadletmebreakawayfromtherageofthepeople，whileImightbewalkingunguarded，thanbepermittedtotakemydailywalksundertheprotectionofM。deLafayette!“
“Youseeeverythingintoodarkandsadalight，“criedtheking。
“Everythingwillcomeoutrightifweareonlywiseandcarefullyconformtocircumstances，andbywell-timedconcessionsandadmissionspropitiatethishateandbringthisenmitytosilence。“
Thequeendidnotreply；shestoopeddowntothedauphin，and，pressingakissuponhislocks，whispered：“Nowyonmaytelleverything，Louis。Itisnotlongernecessarytokeepsilentaboutanything，forsilencewereuseless!Sotellofyourheroism，myson!“
“Isitofheroismthatyoutalk？“saidtheking，whoseniceearhadcaughtthewordsofthequeen。
“Yes，ofheroism，sire，“answeredMarieAntoinette。“ButitiswithusaswithDonQuixote；webelievedthatwewerefightingforourhonorandourthrone；nowwemustconfessthatweonlyfoughtagainstwindmills。Ibegyounow，sire，toinformGeneralLafayettethatitisnotnecessarytocallouthisNationalGuardsonmyaccount，Ishallnotwalkagain!“
Andthequeenkeptherword。NeveragainduringthewinterdidshegodownintothegardensandparkoftheTuileries。ShenevergaveLafayetteoccasiontoprotecther，butsheatleastgainedtherebywhatLafayettewantedtoreachbyhisNationalGuard——sheheldthepopulaceawayfromtheTuileries。Atfirsttheystoodindensemassesdayafterdayalongthefenceoftheparkandtheroyalgarden，butwhentheysawthatMarieAntoinettewouldnomoreexposeherselftotheircuriousandevilglances，theygrewtiredofwaitingforher，andwithdrewfromtheneighborhoodoftheTuileries，——butonlytorepairtotheirclubsandlistentotheravingspeecheswhichMarat，Santerre，andotherofficers，hurledlikepoisonedarrowsatthequeen-onlytogointotheNationalAssemblyandhearMirabeauandRobespierre，Danton，Chenier，Petion，andalltherest，theassembledrepresentativesofthenation，launchtheirthunderingphilippicsagainstaroyaltyappointedbythegraceofGod，andcausingthepeopletobelievethatitwasaroyaltyappointedbythewrathofGod。
Thewinterwaspassed——asaddismalwinterfortheroyalfamily，andforMarieAntoinetteinparticular!Noneofthosefestivities，thosediversions，thosesimpleandinnocentjoys，whicharewonttoadornthelifeofawomanandofaqueen!
MarieAntoinetteisnomoreaqueenwhocommands，whoseesaroundherathrongofrespectfulcourtiers，zealouslylisteningtoeverywordthatfallsfromherlips；MarieAntoinetteisagravesolitarywoman，whoworksmuch，thinksmuch，makesmanyplansforsavingthekingdomandthethrone，andseesalltheseplansshipwrecksontheindecisionandweaknessofherhusband。
Farawayfromthequeenlaythosehappytimeswheneverydaybroughtnewjoysandnewdiversions；whenthedawnofasummermorningmadethequeenhappy，becauseitpromisedheradelightfulevening，andoneofthosecharmingidylsatTrianon。Thebrothersoftheking，theschoolmasterandmayorofTrianon，hadleftFranceandhadlocatedthemselvesatCoblentzontheRhine；thePolignacshadfledtoEngland；thePrincessLamballe，too，had，atthewishofthequeen，gonetonegotiatewithPitt，inordertoimploretheall-
powerfulministerofGeorgeIII。togivetotheoppressedFrenchcrownmorematerialandeffectualsupportthanwasaffordedbytheangryandbitterwordswhichhehurledinParliamentagainsttheriotousandrebelliousFrenchnation。TheCountsdeBesenvalandCoigny，theMarquisdeLauzun，andBarond’Adhemar，alltheprivilegedfriendsofthesummerdaysatTrianonandthewinterdaysofVersailles，all，all，weregone。
TheyhadfledtoCoblentz，andwereatthecourtoftheFrenchprinces。Theretheyspuntheirintrigues，soughttoexciteaEuropeanwaragainstFrance；fromtheretheyhurledtheirflamingtorchesintoFrance，theircalumniesagainstQueenMarieAntoinette，theAustrianwoman。ShealonewasaccountableforallthemisfortunesandthedisturbancesofFrance，shealonehadgivenoccasionforthedistrustnowfeltagainstroyalty。OnherheadfellthecurseandtheburdenofallthefaultsandsinswhichtheFrenchcourthadforahundredyearscommitted。Theremustbeasacrificiallamb，tobethrownintothearmsglisteningwithspearsanddaggers，ofarevolutionwhichthirstedforbloodandvengeance，andMarieAntoinettehadtobethevictim。Inherbleedingheartthespiritsglowingwithhatemightcoolthemselves，andtheretheevilwhichherpredecessorshaddone，wastobeatonedfor。Manyawronghadbeendone，andtheFrenchnationhad，nodoubt，arighttobeangryandtorageasdoesthelionforalongtimekeptinsubjection，whenatlast，touchedtoomuchbytheironofitskeeper，itrisesinitswildness，andwithwitheringgreed，tearshiminpiecesfromwhomithassufferedsolongandsomuch。TheFrenchpeoplerosejustastheincensedliondoes，anddeterminedtowreaktheirvengeanceontheirkeepers，onthosewhomtheyhadsolongcalledtheirlordsandrulers。
Topacifythelionsomepreymustbethrowntohim，andtohimwhothirstsforvengeanceandblood，ahumanofferingmustbebroughttopropitiatehim。
MarieAntoinettehadtobetheofferingtothelion!HerbloodhadtoflowforthesinsoftheBourbons!Onheralltheanger，theexasperation，therageofthepeoplemustconcentrate!ShemustbeartheblameofallthemiseriesandtheneedsofFrance!Shemustsatisfythehungerforvengeance，inorderthatwhenthelionisappeaseditcanbemadeplacableandpatientagain，thechainsputonwhichhehasbrokeninhisrage——thechains，however，towhich，whenhisrageispast，hemustagainsubmit。
Thequeen，thequeenistoblameforall!MarieAntoinettehasbroughtroyaltyintodiscredit；theAustrianwomanhasbroughtthehatredoftheFrenchnationuponherself，andshemustatoneforit，shealone!
Libelsandcalumniesareforgedagainstthequeenbythosewhowereoncethefriendsandcavaliersofthequeen——cavaliersnolonger，butcavillersnow；thepoisonedarrowsaresenttoFrancetobedirectedagainsttheheadofthequeen，todestroyfirstherhonorandgoodname，andthentomakeherapreyforscornandcontempt。
IfthelionstillshisrageandcoolshishatewithMarieAntoinetteashisvictim，hewillrelaxagainandbowtohisking，foritistimefortheseroyalprincestoreturntoFranceandtheirlovedParisoncemore。
TheCountdoProvenceistheimplacableenemyofthequeen；hecanneverforgiveherforgainingtheheartofthekingherhusband，andleavingnoinfluenceforhiswise，cleverbrother。TheCountdeProvenceisavariciousandcrafty。Heseesthatanabysshasopenedbeforethethroneofthelilies，andthatitwillnotcloseagain!
Itmust，therefore，befilledup!Areconciliationwillnotbepossibleinanaturalway，andartificialmethodsmustbefoundtoaccomplishit。LouisXVI。willnotbesaved，andMarieAntoinetteshallnotbe!Thetwo，perhaps，canfilluptheabyssthatyawnsbetweenthethroneoftheliliesandtheFrenchpeople。They，perhaps，mayfillitup，andthenawaymaybemadefortheCountdeProvence，thesuccessorofhisbrother。