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marie antoinette and her son-第8部分

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to little; simple; pretty Trianon; to the dream of paradise; where
all is innocence; simplicity; and peace; where the queen may be a
woman; and a happy one; too; and where Marie Antoinette has the
right to banish etiquette; and live in accordance with her
inclinations; wishes; and humors。

Yes; truly; the fiery steeds have transformed themselves into birds;
they cut the air; they scarcely touch the ground; and hardly can the
driver restrain them when they reach the fence which separates the
garden of Trianon from Versailles。

Light as a gazelle; happy as a young girl that knows nothing of the
cares and burdens of life; Marie Antoinette sprang out of the
carriage before the chamberlain had time to open the gate with its
double wings; to let the queen pass in as a queen ought。 Laughing;
she glided through the little side gate; which sufficed for the more
unpretending visitor of Trianon; and took the arm of her friend the
Duchess de Polignac; in order to turn with her into one of the side
alleys。 But; before doing so; she turned to the chamberlain; who;
standing in a respectful attitude; was awaiting the commands of his
mistress。

〃Weber;〃 said she to him; in the pleasant Austrian dialect; the
language of her early home〃 Weber; there is no need for you to
follow us。 The day is yours。 You are free; as I am too。 Meanwhile;
if yon meet his majesty; tell him that I have gone to the small
palace; and that; if it pleases his majesty; he may await me in my
little village at the mill。

〃And now; come; my Julia;〃 said she; turning to the duchess; and
drawing her forward with gentle violence; 〃 now let us be merry and
happy。 I am no longer a queen; God be thanked! I am neither more nor
less than anybody else。 That is the reason I was so well pleased to
come through the small door just now。 Through a narrow gate alone we
can enter paradise; and I am entering paradise now。 Oh; do you not
see; my friend; that the trees; the flowers; the bushes; every thing
here is free from the dust of earth; that even the heaven has
another color; and looks down upon me brilliant and blue; like the
eye of God?〃

〃It is just;〃 answered the Duchess de Polignac; 〃because you are
seeing every thing with other eyes; your majesty。〃

〃Your majesty!〃 cried Marie Antoinette。 〃You love me no longer; your
heart is estranged from me; since you address me with this cold
title。 In Versailles; you had a valid plea; but here; Julia; what
can you offer in justification? The flowers are not listeners; the
bushes have not ears; like the walls of Versailles; to spy out our
privacy。〃

〃I say nothing for my exculpation;〃 answered the duchess; throwing
her arm with a playful movement around the neck of the queen; and
imprinting a kiss upon the lofty brow of Marie Antoinette。 〃I only
ask your pardon; and promise that I will be obedient and not disturb
my friend's dream of paradise all day long by an ill…timed word。 Now
will you forgive me; Marie?〃

〃With all my soul; Julia;〃 answered the queen; nodding to her in a
friendly way。 〃And now; Julia; as we have a happy vacation day
before us; we will enjoy it like two young girls who are celebrating
the birthday of their grandmother after escaping from a boarding
school。 Let us see which of us is the swiftest of foot。 We will make
a wager on it。 See; there gleams our little house out from the
shrubbery; let us see which of us gets there first。〃

〃Without stopping once in the run?〃 asked the duchess; amazed。

〃I make no conditions; I only say; let us see who gets there first。
If you win; Julia; I will give you the privilege of nominating a man
to have the first place in my Swiss guards; and you may select the
protege in whose behalf you were pleading yesterday。 Come; let us
run。 One!〃

〃No; Marie;〃 interrupted the duchess。 〃Supposing that you are the
first; what shall I give you?〃

〃A kissa hearty kissJulia。 Now; forward! One; two; three!〃

And; speaking these words in merry accents; Marie Antoinette sprang
forward along the narrow walk。 The round straw hat which covered her
head was tossed up on both sides; the blue ribbons fluttered in the
wind; the white dress puffed up; and the grand chamberlain of the
queen and Madame Adelaide would have been horrified if they could
have seen the queen flying along like a girl escaped from the
boarding…school。

But she; she never thought of there being any thing improper in the
run; she looked forward to the goal with laughing glances; as the
white house emerged more and more from the verdure by which it was
surrounded; and then sideways at her friend; who had not been able
to gain a single step upon her。

〃Forward; forward!〃 shouted the queen; 〃I will and I must win; for
the prize is a kiss from my Julia。〃 And with renewed speed the queen
dashed along。 The lane opened and terminated in a square in front of
the palace。 The queen stopped in her course; and turned round to see
her friend; who had been left far behind her。

As soon as the duchess saw it she tried to quicken her steps; and
began to run again; but Marie Antoinette motioned with her hand; and
went rapidly back to meet her。

〃You shall not make any more effort; Julia;〃 said she。 〃I have won;
and you cannot bring my victory into question。〃

〃And I do not wish to;〃 answered the duchess; with a merry look of
defiance on her gentle features。 〃I really did not wish to win; for
it would have seemed as if I had to win what I want on the turn of a
merry game。 You have done wrong; Marie Antoinette。 You want me to
forget here in Trianon that you are the Queen of France。 But you
yourself do not forget it。 Only the queen can propose such a prize
as you have set; and only the queen can ask so insignificant a boon
on the other side。 You have made it impossible for me to win; for
you know well that I am not selfish。〃

〃I know it; and that is just the reason why I love you so dearly;
Julia。 I have done wrong;〃 she went on to say with her gentle; sweet
voice。 〃I see it; and I beg your forgiveness。 Give me now as a proof
that you do forgive me; give me the prize which I have wona kiss;
Julia; a kiss。〃

〃Not here;〃 answered the duchess。 〃O; no; not here; Marie。 Do not
you see that the doors of the saloons are open; and that your
company are all assembled。 They would all envy me; they would all be
jealous if they were to see the preference which you show for me。〃

〃Let them be jealous; let them envy you;〃 cried the queen; 〃the
whole world shall know that Julia de Polignac is my best…loved
friend; that next to husband and children; I love no one so well as
her。〃

With gentle violence the queen threw both her arms around the neck
of the duchess; and kissed her passionately。

〃Did you notice;〃 said the Baron de Besenval to Lord Adhemar; with
whom he was playing a game of backgammon in the saloon; 〃did you
notice the tableau that the queen is presenting; taking for her
theme a group representing Friendship?〃

〃I wish it were in my power to reproduce this wonderful group in
marble;〃 answered Lord Adhemar; laughing。 〃It would be a companion
piece to Orestes and Pylades。〃

〃But which;〃 asked the Duchess de Guemene; looking up from her
embroidery; 〃which would be the companion of Orestes; pursued of
Furies; surrounded by serpents?〃

〃That is the queen;〃 answered the Count de Vaudreuil; who was
sitting at the piano and practising a new piece of music。 〃The queen
is the womanly Orestes: the Furies are the three royal aunts; and
the serpentspardon me; ladiesare; with the exception of
yourselves; most all the ladies of Paris。〃

〃You are malicious; count;〃 cried Madame de Morsan; 〃and were we by
any chance not here; you would reckon us among the serpents。〃

〃If I should do so;〃 said Count Vaudreuil; laughing; 〃I should only
wish to take the apple from you; in order to be driven out of
paradise with you。 But still! the queen is coming。〃

Yes; just then the queen entered the apartment。 Her cheeks were
glowing red by reason of her run; her bosom heaved violently with
her hurried; agitated breathing。 Her hat had fallen upon one side;
and the dark blond hair was thrown about in wild confusion。

It was not the queen who entered the saloon; it was only Marie
Antoinette; the simple; young woman; greeting her friends with
brilliant glances and lively nods。 It had been made a rule with her;
that when she entered; no one should rise; nor leave the embroidery;
or piano…playing; or any other occupation。

The women remained at their work; Lords Besenval and Adhemar went on
playing their game of backgammon; and only the Count de Vaudreuil
rose from his place at the approach of the queen。

〃What have you been playing; count?〃 asked Marie Antoinette。 〃I beg
your pardon; if I leave your question unanswered;〃 replied the
count; with a gentle inclination of the head。 〃Your majesty has such
a fine ear; that you must doubtless recognize the composer in the
music。 It is an entirely new composition; and I have taken the
license of arranging it for four hands。 If your majesty would
perhaps be inclined…〃

〃Come;〃 interrupted the queen; 〃let us try it at once。〃

Quickly; and with feverish impatience; she drew her black netted
gl
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