“Sire，“repliedthedauphin，withaweightyandthoughtfulair，“sire，MadamedeTourzelhasalwaystoldmethatImustlovethepeopleofFranceverymuch，andtreateveryoneveryfriendly，becausethepeopleofFrancelovemypapaandmymammasomuch，andIoughttobeverygratefulforit。Howcomesitthen，sire，thattheFrenchpeoplearenowsobadtoyou，andthattheydonotlovemammaanylonger？Whathaveyoubothdonetomakethepeoplesoangry，becauseIhavebeentoldthatthepeoplearesubjecttoyourmajesty，andthattheyoweyouobedienceandrespect？Buttheywerenotobedientyesterday，andnotatallrespectful，yoursubjects，werethey？Howisthis，papa？“
Thekingdrewthelittleprincetohisknee，andputhisarmaroundtheslightformoftheboy。“Iwillexplainittoyou，myson，“hesaid，“andlistencarefullytowhatIsaytoyou。“
“Iwill，sire，“answeredtheboyeagerly，“Iatleastamanobedientsubjectofmyking，fortheAbbeDavouthastoldmethatIamnothingbutasubjectofyourmajesty，andthat，asasonandasubject，ImustgiveagoodexampletotheFrenchpeople，howtoloveandobeytheking。AndIloveyouverymuch，papa，andIamjustasobedientasIcanbe。Butitseemsasthoughmygoodexamplehadmadenodifferencewiththeothersubjects。Howcomesthatabout，papaking？“
“Myson，“answeredLouis，“thatcomesbecausetherearebadmenwhohavetoldthepeoplethatIdonotlovethem。Wehavehadtohavegreatwars，andwarscostadealofmoney。AndsoIaskedmoneyofmypeople——justasmyancestorsalwaysdid。“
“But，papa，“criedthedauphin，“whydidyoudothat？Whydidyounottakemypurse，andpayoutofthat？YouknowthatIreceiveeverydaymypurseallfilledwithnewfrancs，and——butthen，“heinterruptedhimself，“therewouldbenothingleftforthepoorchildren，towhomIalwaysgivemoneyonmywalks。And，oh!therearesomanypoorchildren，soverymany，thatmypurseisemptyeveryday，whenIreturnfrommywalk，andyetIgivetoeachchildonlyonepoorfranc-piece。Soyourpeoplehavemoney，moremoneythanyouyourself？“
“Mychild，kingsreceiveallthattheyhavefromtheirpeople，buttheygiveitallbacktothepeopleagain；thekingistheoneappointedbyGodtogovernhispeople，andthepeopleowerespectandobediencetotheking，andhavetopaytaxestohim。Andso，ifheneedsmoney，heisjustifiedinaskinghissubjectsforit，andsodoeswhatiscalled’layingtaxes’uponthem。Doyouunderstandme？“
“Oh!yes，papa，“criedthechild，whohadlistenedwithopeneyesandbreathlessattention，“Iunderstandallverywell。ButIdon’tlikeit。Itseemstomethatifamanisking，everythingbelongstohim，andthatthekingoughttohaveallthemoneysoastogiveittothepeople。TheyoughttoaskHIM，andnotheTHEM!“
“Informerandmorehappytimesitwasso，“saidtheking，withasigh。“Butmanykingshavemisusedtheirpowerandauthority，andnowthekingcannotpayoutmoneyunlessthepeopleunderstandallaboutitandconsent!“
“Haveyougivenoutmoney，papa，withoutaskingthepeople’sleave？
WasthatthereasontheycametoVersaillesyesterday，andweresowicked，ah!soverywicked？Forthosebadmen-theywerethepeople，weretheynot？“
“No，myson，“answeredLouis，“Ihopetheywerenotthepeople。Thepeoplecannotcometomeinsuchgreatmasses；theymusthavetheirrepresentatives。TherepresentativesofthepeopleIhavemyselfcalledtome；theyaretheStates-General，whichIassembledatVersailles。IaskedofthemmoneyfortheoutlayswhichIhadtomakeforthepeople，buttheyaskedthingsofmethatIcouldnotgrant，eitherformyownsake，orforyours，myson，whoaresomedaytobemysuccessor。Thenwickedmencameandstirredupthepeople，andtoldthemthatIdidnotlovethepeopleanymore，andthatIwantedtotroublemysubjects。Andthepoorpeoplehavebelievedwhattheseeviladvisersandslanderershavetoldthem，andhavebeenledastrayintomakingtheriotagainstme。Buteverythingwillcomeoutrightagain，andmysubjectswillseethatI
lovethem，andamreadytoshareeverythingwiththem。ThatisthereasonIhavecometoParis，tolivehereamongmypeople。ItiscertainlynotsopleasantasinVersailles；ourroomsarenotsofineandconvenient，andwedonothavethebeautifulgardensherethatwehadthere。Butwemustlearntobecontentedhere，andputupwithwhatwehave。WemustrememberthatthereisnooneinParisbetterthanwe，andthattheParisiansmustacknowledgethatthekinglovesthem，forhehasgivenuphisbeautifulVersailles，inordertolivewiththem，andsharealltheirneed，andallthedisagreeablethingswhichtheyhavetobear。“
“Papaking，Ihaveunderstoodeverything，andIamverymuchashamedthatIhavecomplainedbefore。Ipromiseyou，sire，“hecontinued，withearnestmien，andlayinghishanduponhisbreast，“yes，sire，Ipromiseyou，thatIwilltakepainstogivethepeopleagoodexample，andtobereallygoodandkind。IwillnevercomplainagainthatwearelivinginParis，andIwilltakepainstobehappyandcontentedhere。“
Andthedauphinkepthisword。Hetookpainstobecontented；hesaidnotanotherwordabouttheoldpleasantlifeatVersailles，butappearedtohaveforgottenallabouteverhavingbeenanywherebutinthisgreat，desolatepalace，withitshallsfilledwithfadedtapestry；stately，solemnfurniture，theirgoldenadornmentshavinggrowndim，andtheirupholsteryhard；heseemednevertohaveknownanygardenbutthis，onlyonelittlecornerofwhichwassetapartfortheroyalfamily，andthroughtheirongateofwhichthreateningwordswereoftenheard，andspitefulfacesseen。
Oneday，whenthedauphinheardsuchwords，andsawsuchfacesbeyondthepaling，heshrankback，andrantohismother，earnestlyimploringherwithtremblingvoicetoleavethegarden，andgointothepalace。ButMarieAntoinetteledhimfartherintothegarden，insteadofcomplyingwithhiswish。Inthelittlepavilionwhichstoodatthecorneroftheenclosureonthesideofthequay，shesatdown，andliftingherboyupinherarms，sethimbeforeheronthemarbletable，wipedawayhistearswithherhandkerchief，andtenderlyimploredhimnottoweeporfeelbadlyanymore。
“Ifyouweep，mychild，“shesaid，sadly，asthedauphincouldnotcontrolhistears，“ifyouweep，Ishallhavenocourageleft，anditwillbeasdarkanddrearytomeasifthesunhadgonedown。Ifyouweep，Ishouldwanttoweepwithyou；andyousee，myson，thatitwouldnotbebecomingforaqueentoweep。Thewickedpeople，whowanttohurtourfeelings，theyfindpleasureinit，andthereforewemustbealtogethertooproudtoletthemseewhatwesuffer。I
havethispride，butwhenIseeyousufferittakesawayallmystrength。YourememberourridefromVersailleshere，myson？Howthebadmenwhosurroundedus，mockedatmeandsaidfoulthingstome!Iwascoldandcalm，butIcouldnothelpweeping，mychild，whenyoucomplainedofbeinghungry。“
“Mamma，“criedthechild，withflashingeyes，“Iwillnevercomplainagain，andthebadmenshallneverhavethepleasureofseeingmeweep。“
“Butgoodmen，mychild，youmustalwaystreatkindly，andbehaveveryprettilytothem。“
“Iwilldoso，“answeredthedauphin，thoughtfully。“But，mammaqueen，tellmewhothegoodmenare!“
“Youmustbelieve，Louis，thatallmenaregood，andthereforeyoumustbekindtoall。Ifthentheydespiseyourgoodnessorfriendliness，andcastitfromthem，itwillnotbeyourfault，andourheavenlyFatherandyourparentswillbepleasedwithyou。“
“But，mamma，“criedtheprince，andashadowpassedoverhispure，beautifulchild’sface，“but，mamma，Icannotseethatallmenaregood。Whentheywereabusingus，andcursingus，andspeakingbadwordsatusinthecarriage，andweretalkingsoangrilyatyou，dearmamma，themenwerenotgood，andInevercouldtreatthemfriendlyiftheyshouldcomeagain。“
“Theywillnotcomeagain，Louis。No，wewillhopethatthebadmenwillnotcomeagain，andthatthosewhocometoseeusherearegoodmen；sobeverykindandpolitetoeverybody，thatallmayloveyou，andseethattheirfuturekingisgoodandpolite，evenwhileachild。“
“Good？“criedtheboy，spiritedly。“Iwillbegoodandpolitetoeverybody，thatyoumaybesatisfiedwithme。Yes，justforthatwillIbeso。“
MarieAntoinettepressedtheprettyboytoherself，andkissedhislips。JustthenanofficerenteredandannouncedGeneralLafayetteandBailly，themayorofParis。
“Mamma，“whisperedtheprince，asthetwogentlemenentered——“
mamma，thatisthegeneralthatwasatVersailles，then。Icanneverbekindtohim，forhebelongstothebadmen。“
“Hush!mychild-hush!“whisperedthequeen。“ForGod’ssake，donotletanybodyhearthat。No，no，GeneralLafayettedoesnotbelongtoourenemies，hemeanswelltowardus。Treathimkindly，verykindly，mychild。“
AndMarieAntoinettetookhersonbythehand，and，withasmileuponherlips，wenttomeetthetwogentlemen，inordertoinquirethereasonfortheirappearingatthisunwontedtimeandplace。
“Madame，“saidGeneralLafayette，“Ihavecometoaskyourmajestywhetheryouwillnothavethegoodnesstoletmeknowthehoursinwhichyoumaywishtovisittheparkandthegarden，thatImaymakemyarrangementsaccordingly。“
“Thatmeans，general，“criedthequeen，“thatitisnottodependuponmyfree-willwhenandatwhattimesIamtowalkinthepark，butitwillbeallowedmeonlyatcertainhours，justasprisonersareallowedtotaketheirwalksatcertainhours。“
“Ibegyourpardon，madame，“saidthegeneral，withgreatrespect；
“yourmajestywillgraciouslybelieve，thattome，thepeaceandsecurityofyourexaltedpersonissacredaboveeverything，andthatIregarditasmyfirstdutytoprotectyouagainsteveryinsult，andeverythingthatmaybedisagreeable。“
“Andsoithascometothat，“criedMarieAntoinette，angrily。“TheQueenofFrancemustbeprotectedagainstinsultsanddisagreeablethings。Sheisnottogooutwhenshewillintoherpark，becauseshehastofearthat，ifGeneralLafayettehasnotpreviouslymadehisspecialpreparations，thepeoplewillinsulther。Butifthisisso，sir，whydoyounotclosethegatesofthepark？Itisroyalproperty，anditprobablywillbeallowedtothekingtodefendhisprivatepropertyfromthebrutalityoftherabble。Iwillmyself，general，seetoitthatIbeprotectedfrominsults，andthat，atanytimewhenitpleasesme，Imaygointotheparkandtheinnergardens。Iwillaskhismajestythekingtoallowthegatesoftheparkand。thepromenadeonthequaytobeclosed。Thatwillcloseeverything，andweshallatleastgainthefreedomtherebyofbeingabletotakewalksatanytime，withoutfirstsendinginformationtoGeneralLafayette。“
“Madame，Iexpectedthatyouwouldanswermeso，“saidLafayette，sadly，“andIhavethereforebroughtM。deBaillywithme，thathemightjoinmeinsupplicatingyourmajestytograciouslyabstainfromtakingmeasuresofviolence，andnottofurtherstirupthefeelingsofthepeople，alreadysoexasperated。“
“Andsoyouareofthisopinion，sir？“askedMarieAntoinette，turningtoM。Bailly。“You，too，regarditasacompulsorymeasure，forthekingtoclaimhisownright，andtokeepoutofhispropertythosewhoinsulthim。“
“Yourmajesty，thekingis，unfortunately，notfreetomakeuseofthisright，asyoucallit。“
“Youwillnotsay，sir，thatifitpleasesthekingnottoallowevil-disposedpersonstoentertheparkoftheTuileries，hehasnottherighttoclosethegates？“
“Madame，Imustindeedtaketheprivilegeofsayingso，“answeredM。
deBailly，withagentleobeisance。“KingHenryIV。gavetheParisianstheperpetualprivilegeofhavingtheparkoftheTuileriesopentothemalways，andfreetobeusedintheirwalks。
ThepalaceoftheTuilerieswas，asyourmajestyknows，originallybuiltbyQueenCatherinedeMedicis，afterthedeathofherhusband，forthehomeofherwidowhood。AllsortsofstorieswerethencurrentabouttheuncannythingswhichweresaidtooccurintheparkoftheTuileries。TheytoldaboutlaboratoriesinwhichQueenCatherinepreparedherpoisons；ofapavilioninwhichtherewasamartyr’schamber；ofsubterraneancellsforthosewhohadbeenburiedalive；andallthesedreadfulstoriesmadesuchanimpressionthatnoonedaredapproachthisplaceofhorrorsaftersunset。ButwhenQueenCatherinehadleftParis，andKingHenryIV。residedintheLouvre，hehadthisdreadedTuileriesgarden，withallitshorrors，openedtotheParisians，andoutofthequeen’sgardenhemadeoneforthepeople，inorderthatthecursewhichresteduponitmightbechangedintoablessing。“