TheCountd’Artoiswasoncethefriendofthequeen，theonlyoneoftheroyalfamilywhowishedherwell，andwhodefendedhersometimesagainstthehatredoftheroyalauntsandsisters-in-law，andthecraftybrother。ButwhilelivinginCoblentz，theCountd’ArtoishadbecometheembitteredenemyofMarieAntoinette。Hehadhearditsooftensaidonallsidesthatthequeenbyherlevity，herextravagance，andherintrigues，wasthecauseofall，thatshealonehadbroughtabouttherevolution，thatheatlastbelievedit，andturnedangrilyagainsttheroyalwoman，whoseworstoffenceintheeyesoftheprincelayinthis，thatshehadbeentheoccasionofhisenforcedexiletoCoblentz。
AndMarieAntoinetteknewalltheseintrigueswhichwereforgedbytheprinceinCoblentzagainstherself——knewaboutallthecalumniesthatweresetincirculationthere；shereadthelibelsandpamphletswhichthestorm-windofrevolutionshookfromthedrytreeofmonarchylikewitheredautumnleaves，andscatteredthroughallFrance，thattheymightbeeverywherefoundandread。
“Theywillkillme，“shewouldoftensay，withasigh，afterreadingthesepamphletssteepedwithhate，andwritteninblood——“yes，theywillkillme，butwithmetheywillkillthekingandthemonarchytoo。Therevolutionwilltriumphoverusall，andhurlusalltogetherdownintothegrave。“
Butstillshewouldmakeeffortstocontroltherevolutionandrestorethemonarchyagainoutofitshumiliations。TheEmperorJosephII。，brotherofthequeen，oncesaidofhimself，“Iamaroyalist，becausethatismybusiness。“MarieAntoinettewasaroyalistnotbecauseitwasherbusiness；shewasaroyalistbyconviction，aroyalistinhersoul，hermind，andherinmostnature。
Forthisshewoulddefendthemonarchy；forthisshewouldcontendagainsttherevolution，untilsheshouldeitherconstrainittotermsorbeswallowedupinit。
Allherefforts，allhercares，weredirectedonlytothis，tokindleinthekingthesamecouragethatanimatedher，tostirhimwiththesamefirethatburnedinhersoul。Butalas!LouisXVI。wasnodoubtagoodmanandakindfather，buthewasnoking。Hehadnodoubtthewishtorestorethemonarchy，buthelackedtherequisiteenergyandstrongwill。Insteadofcontrollingtherevolutionwithafieryspirit，hesoughttoconciliateitbyconcessionandmildmeasures；andinsteadofcheckingit，hehimselfwentdownbeforeit。
ButMarieAntoinettecouldnotandwouldnotgiveuphope。Asthekingwouldnotact，shewouldactforhim；ashewouldnottakepartinpolitics，shewoulddosoforhim。Withglowingzealsheplungedintobusiness，spentmanyhourseachdaywiththeministersanddependantsofthecourt，correspondedwithforeignlands，withherbrothertheEmperorLeopold，andhersister，QueenCarolineofNaples，wrotetotheminacipherintelligibleonlytothem，andsentthelettersthroughthehandsofsecretagents，imploringofthemassistanceandhelpforthemonarchy。
Inearnestlabor，inunrelievedcareandbusiness，thequeen’sdaysnowpassed；shesang，shelaughednomore；dresshadnolongercharmsforher；shehadnomoreconferenceswithMademoiselleBertin，hermilliner；herhairdresser，M。Leonard，hadnomorecallsuponhisgeniusfornewcoiffuresforherfairhair；asimple，darkdress，thatwasthetoiletofthequeen，alacehandkerchiefroundtheneck，andafeatherwasheronlyhead-dress。
Onceshehadrejoicedinherbeauty，andsmiledattheflatterieswhichhermirrortoldherwhenitreflectedherface；nowshelookedwithindifferenceatherpale，wornface，withitssharpgravefeatures，anditawokenowonderwithinherwhenthemirrortoldherthatthequeenofFrance，inspiteofherthirty-sixyears，wasold；
thattherosesonhercheekshadwithered，andthatcarehaddrawnuponherbrowthoselineswhichagecouldnotyethavedone。Shedidnotgrieveoverherlostbeauty；shelookedwithcomplacencyatthatmatronofsix-and-thirtyyearswhosebeautifulhairshowedthetracesofthatdreadfulnightinOctober。Shehadherpicturepainted，inordertosendittoLondon，tothetruestofherfriends，thePrincessLamballe，andwithherownhandsshewrotebeneathitthewords：“Yoursorrowshavewhitenedyourhair。“
Andyetinthislifefullofcares，fullofwork，fullofpainandhumiliation——inthesesaddaysoftroubleandresignation，thereweresinglegleamsofsunshine，scatteredmomentsofhappiness。
ItwasarayofsunshinewhenthissadwinterintheTuilerieswaspast，andtheStates-GeneralallowedtheroyalfamilytogotoSt。
Cloudandspendthesummerthere。CertainlyitwasanewhumiliationforthekingtoreceivepermissiontoresideinhisownsummerpalaceofSt。Cloud。ButtheStates-Generalcalledthemselvesthepillarsofthethrone，andthekingwhosatuponthisshakingthronewasverydependentuponitssupport。
InSt。Cloudtherewasatleastalittlefreedom，alittlesolitudeandstillness。Thebirdssanginthefoliage，thesunlightedupthebroadhallsofthepalace，inwhichafewfaithfulonesgatheredaroundthequeenandrecalledatleastatouchofthepasthappinesstoherbrow。InSt。Cloudshewasagainthequeen，sheheldhercourtthere。Buthowdifferentwasthisfromthecourtofformerdays。
Nomerrylaughter，nocheerfulsingingresoundedthroughthesespacioushalls；nopleasantladies，inlight，airy，summercostumesweptthroughthefragrantapartments；M。d’Adhemarnolongersitsatthespinet，andsingswithhisrichvoicethebeautifulariasfromtheopera“RichardoftheLionHeart，“inwhichroyaltyhaditsapotheosis，andinwhichthesingerGarathadexcitedallParistothewildestdemonstrationsofdelight!AndnotallParis，butVersaillesaswell，andinVersaillestheroyalcourt!
LouisXVI。himselfhadbeeninraptureattheariawhichGaratsangwithhisflexibletenorvoiceinsoenchantingamanner——“Oh，Richard!oh，monroi!“——anariawhichhadonceprocuredhimatriumphintheverytheatre。ForwhenGaratbeganthisairwithhisfullvoice，andeverycountenancewasdirectedtotheboxwheretheroyalfamilyweresitting，thewholetheatrerose，andthehundredsuponhundredspresenthadjoinedintheloud，jubilantstrains——“Oh，Richard!oh，monroi!“LouisXVI。wasgratefultothespiritedsinger，who，inthatstormytime，hadthecouragetopubliclyofferhimhomage，andhehadthereforeaccededtotherequestofthequeen，thatGaratshouldbeinvitedtotheprivateconcertsofthequeenatVersailles，andgiveherinstructiononthoseoccasionsintheartofsinging。
MarieAntoinettethoughtofthosepleasantdaysofthepast，asshesatinthestill，desertedmusic-room，wheretheinstrumentsstoodsilentbythewall——wheretherewerenohandstoenticethecheerfulmelodiesfromthestrings，astherehadoncebeen。
“IwishthatIhadneversungduetswithGarat，“whisperedthequeentoherself。“Thekingallowedme，butyetIoughtnottohavedoneit。Aqueenhasnorighttobefree，merry，andhappy。Aqueencanpractisethefineartsonlyalone，andinthesilenceofherownapartments。IwouldIhadneversungwithGarat。“[Footnote：Thequeen’sownwords——See“MemoiresdeMadamedeCampan，“vol。ii。]
Shesatdownbeforethespinetandopenedit。Herfingersglidedsoftlyoverthekeys，andforthefirsttime，inlongmonthsofsilence，theroomresoundedwiththetonesofmusic。
But，alas!itwasnocheerfulmusicwhichthefingersofthequeendrewfromthekeys；itwasonlythenotesofpain，onlycriesofgrief；andyettheyrecalledthehappyby-gonetimes——thosegolden，blesseddays，whentheQueenofFrancewasthefriendofthearts，andwhenshereceivedherearlyteacher，thegreatmaestroandchevalier，Gluck，inVersailles；whenshetooksidesforhimagainsttheItalianmaestroLully，andwhenallParisdividedintotwoparties，theGluckistsandLullyists，wagingabloodlesswaragainsteachother。HappyParis!Atthattimetheinterestsofartalonebusiedallspirits，andthebattleofopinionswasconductedonlywiththepen。Gluckowedittothemightyinfluenceofthequeenthathisopera“Alcestes“wasbroughtuponthestage；butatitsfirstrepresentationtheLullyistsgainedthevictory，andcondemnedit。Indespair，Glucklefttheopera-house，drivenbyhissesintothedarkstreet。Afriendfollowedhimanddetainedhim，ashewashurryingaway，andspokeinthegentlesttones。ButGluckinterruptedhimwithwildviolence：“Oh，myfriend!“criedhe，fallingontheneckofhimwhowasexpressinghiskindlysympathy，“’Alcestes’hasfallen!“Buthisfriendpressedhishand，andsaid，“Fallen？Yes，’Alcestes’hasfallen!Ithasfallenfromheaven!“
Thequeenthoughtofthisasshesatbeforethespinet——thoughthowmovedGluckwaswhenherelatedthisanswerofhisfriend，andthathe，whohadbeensokind，wastheDuked’Adhemar。
Shehadthankedhimforthisgraciouswordbygivinghimherhandtokiss，andAdhemar，kneeling，hadpressedhislipstoherhand。AndthatwasthesameBaronAdhemarwhowasnowatCoblentzassistingtheprincetoforgelibelsagainstherself，andwhowashimselftheauthorofthatshamelesslampoonwhichridiculedthemusicalstudiesofthequeen，andeventheduetwhichshehadsungwithGarat!
Softlyglidedherfingersoverthekeys，softlyflowedoverherpale，sunkencheekstwogreattears——tearswhichsheshedasshethoughtofthepast——tearsfullofbitternessandpain!Butno，no，shewouldnotweep；sheshookthetearsfromhereyes，andstruckthekeyswithamorevigoroustouch。Away，away，thoserecollectionsofingratitudeandfaithlessness!Artshallengageherthoughtsinthemusic-room，andtoGluckand“Alcestes“thehourbelongs!
Thequeenstruckthekeysmorefirmly，andbegantoplaythenoble“Love’sComplaint，“ofGluck’sopera。Unconsciouslyherlipsopened，andwithloudvoiceandintensepassionateexpression，shesangthewords，“Oh，crudel，nonpossoinvere，tulosui，senzadite!“
Atthefirstnotesofthisfinevoicethedoorintherearoftheroomhadlightlyopened——theoneleadingtothegarden——andthecurlyheadofthedauphinwasthrustin。BehindhimwereMadamedeTourzelandMadameElizabeth，who，liketheprince，werelisteninginbreathlesssilencetothesingingofthequeen。
Assheended，andwhenthevoiceofMarieAntoinettewaschokedinasigh，thedauphinflewwith，extendedarmsacrossthehalltohismother，“Mammaqueen，“criedhe，beamingwithjoy，“areyousingingagain？Ithoughtmydearmammahadforgottenhowtosing。Butshehasbeguntosingagain，andweareallhappyoncemore。“
MarieAntoinettefoldedthelittlefellowinherarms，anddidnotcontradicthim，andnoddedsmilinglytothetwoladies，whonowapproachedandbeggedthequeen’spardonforyieldingtothepressingdesiresofthedauphin，andenteringwithoutpermission。
“Oh，mamma，mydearmammaqueen，“saidtheprince，inthemostcaressingway，“Ihavebeenveryindustriousto-day；theabbewassatisfiedwithme，andpraisedme，becauseIwrotewellandlearnedmyarithmeticwell。Won’tyougivemearewardforthat，mammaqueen？“
“Whatsortofarewarddoyouwant，mychild？“askedthequeen，smiling。
“Say，first，thatyouwillgiveit。“
“Well，yes，Iwillgiveit，mylittleLouis；nowtellmewhatitis。“
“Mammaqueen，IwantyoutosingyourlittleLouisasong；and，“headded，noddingatthetwoladies，“thatyouallowthesefriendsofminetohearit。“
“Well，mychild，Iwillsingforyou，“answeredMarieAntoinette，“andourgoodfriendsshallhearit。“
Thecountenanceoftheboybeamedwithpleasure；withalacrityherolledaneasy-chairuptothepiano，andtookhisseatinitinthemostdignifiedmanner。
MadameElizabethseatedherselfnearhimonatabouret，andMadamedeTourzelleanedonthebackofthedauphin’schair。
“Nowsing，mamma，nowsing，“askedthedauphin。
MarieAntoinetteplayedaprelude，andashereyesfelluponthegrouptheylightedupwithjoy，andthenturnedupwardtoGodwithalookofthankfulness。
Afewminutesbeforeshehadfeltaloneandsad：shehadthoughtofabsentfriendsinbitterpain，andnow，asiffatewouldremindherofthehappinesswhichstillremainedtoher，itsentherthesonandthesister-in-law，bothofwhomlovedhersotenderly，andthegentleandaffectionateMadamedeTourzel，whomMarieAntoinetteknewtobefaithfulandconstantuntodeath。
Theflatterersandcourtiers，thecourtladiesandcavaliers，arenolongerinthemusic-room；theenrapturedpraisesnolongeraccompanythesongsofthequeen；but，outoftheeasy-chair，inwhichtheDuchessdePolignachadsatsooften，nowlooksthebeautifulblondfaceofherson，andhisbeamingcountenancespeaksmoreeloquentlytoherthantheflatteriesoffriends。Onthetabouret，nowoccupiedbyhersister-in-law，MadameElizabeth，DeDillonhasoftensat——thehandsomeDillon，andhisglowing，admiringlookshaveoften，perhaps，inspiteofhisownwill，saidmoretothequeenthansheallowedherselftounderstand，asherheartthrilledinsweetpainandsecretrapturesunderthoseglances!Howpureandinnocentisthefacewhichnowlooksoutfromthischair——thefaceofanangelwhobearsGodinhisheartandonhiscountenance。