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decision approved？ Have I friends still among the people of Paris？〃
〃Your majesty；〃 answered M。 de Bailly； bowing low； 〃all good
citizens of Paris have seen with deep emotion the noble resolve of
your majesty； and in all noble and true hearts the royal words are
recorded imperishably； which your majesty spoke to the judges of the
Chatelet； 'I have heard all； seen all； and forgotten all！' With
tears of deep feeling； with a hallowed joy； they are repeated
through all Paris； they have become the watchword of all the well…
inclined and faithful； the evangel of love and forgiveness for all
women； of fidelity and devotion for all men！ It has been seen and
confessed that the throne of France is the possessor not only of
goodness and beauty； but of forgiveness and gentleness； and that
your majesty bears rightly the title of the Most Christian Queen。
These nine words which your majesty has uttered； have become the
sacred banner of all true souls； and they will cause the golden days
to come back； as they once dawned upon Paris when the Dauphin of
France made his entry into the capital； and it could be said with
truth to the future queen； Marie Antoinette； 'Here are a hundred
thousand lovers of your person。'〃
The queen was no longer able to master her deep emotion。 She who had
had the courage to display a proud and defiant mien to her enemies
and assailants； could not conceal the intensity of her feeling when
hearing words of such devotion； and uttered a cry； then choked with
emotion； and at length burst into a torrent of tears。 Equally
astonished and ashamed； she covered her face with her hands； but the
tears gushed out between her white tapering fingers； and would not
be withheld。 They had been so long repressed behind those proud
eyelids； that now； despite the queen's will； they forced their way
with double power and intensity。
But only for a moment did the proud…spirited queen allow herself to
be overcome by the gentle and deeply…moved woman； she quickly
collected herself and raised her head。
〃I thank you； sir； I thank you；〃 she said； breathing more freely；
〃you have done me good； and these tears； though not the first which
grief and anger have extorted； are the first for a long time which
have sprung from what is almost joy。 Who knows whether I shall ever
be able to shed such tears again！ And who knows；〃 she continued；
with a deep sigh； 〃whether I do not owe these tears more to your
wish to do me good； than to true and real gains？ I bethink me now
you say all good citizens of Paris repeat my words； all the well…
disposed are satisfied with my decision。 But； ah！ I fear that the
number of these is very small； and that the golden days of the past
will never return！ And is not your appearance here to…day a proof of
this？ Did you not come here because the people insult and calumniate
me； and because you considered it needful to throw around me your
protection； which is now mightier than the royal purple and the
lilies of the throne of France？〃
〃Madame； time must be granted to the misguided people to return to
the right way；〃 said Lafayette； almost with a supplicating air。
〃They must be dealt with as we deal with defiant； naughty children；
which can be brought back to obedience and submission better by
gentle speech and apparent concession than by rigidity and severity。
On this account I ventured to ask your majesty to intrust me for a
little while with the care of your sacred person； and； in order that
I may satisfy my duty； that you would graciously appoint the time
when your majesty will take your walks here in the park and garden；
so that I can make my arrangements accordingly。〃
〃In order to make a fence out of your National Guards； protected by
which the Queen of France may not become visible to the hate of the
people； and behind which she may be secure against the attacks of
her enemies！〃 cried Marie Antoinette。 〃No； sir； I cannot accept
this！ It shall at least be seen that I am no coward； and that I will
not hide myself from those who come to attack me！〃
〃Your majesty；〃 said Bailly； 〃I conjure you； do this out of
compassion for us； for all your faithful servants who tremble for
the peace and security of your majesty； and allow M。 de Lafayette to
keep the brutality of the people away from you； and protect you in
your walks。〃
〃Sufficient； gentlemen；〃 cried Marie Antoinette； impatiently。 〃You
now know my fixed resolve； and it is not necessary to discuss it
further。 I will not hide myself from the people； and I will confront
them under the simple protection of God。 Defended by Him； and
sustained by the conviction that I have not merited the hate with
which I am pursued； I will continue to meet the subjects of the king
fearlessly； with an unveiled head； and only God and my fate shall
judge between me and them！ I thank you； gentlemen； for your zeal and
your care； and you may be sure that I shall never forget it。 But now
farewell； gentlemen！ It is growing cold； and I should like to return
to the palace。〃
〃Will your majesty not have the kindness to allow us both to mingle
with your train； and accompany you to the palace？〃 asked Lafayette。
〃I came hither； attended by only two lackeys； who are waiting
outside the pavilion；〃 answered the queen。 〃You know that I have
laid aside the court etiquette which used to attend the queen upon
her walks； and which do not allow the free enjoyment of nature。 My
enemies charge me with this as an offence； and consider it improper
that the Queen of France should take a walk without a brilliant
train of courtiers； and like any other human being。 But I think that
the people ought not to be angry at this； and they may take it as a
sign that I am not so proud and unapproachable as I am generally
believed to be。 And so farewell； gentlemen！〃
She graciously waved her hand toward the door； and； with a gentle
inclination of her head； dismissed the two gentlemen； who； with a
sad bearing； withdrew； and left the pavilion。
〃Come； my son；〃 said the queen； 〃we will return to the palace。〃
〃By the same way that we came； shall we not； mamma？〃 asked the
dauphin； taking the extended hand of the queen； and pressing it to
his lips。
〃You will not weep again if the people shout and laugh？〃 asked Marie
Antoinette。 〃You will not be afraid any more？〃
〃No； I will not be afraid any more。 Oh； you shall be satisfied with
me； mamma queen！ I have paid close attention to all that you said to
the two gentlemen； and I am very glad that you did not allow M。 de
Lafayette to walk behind us。 The people would then have believed
that we are afraid； and now they shall see that we are not so at
all。〃
〃Well； come； my child； let us go；〃 said Marie Antoinette； giving her
hand to her son； and preparing to leave the pavilion。
But on the threshold the dauphin stopped； and looked imploringly up
into the face of his mother。
〃I should like to ask you something； mamma queen。〃
〃Well； what is it； my little Louis？ What do you wish？〃
〃I should like to have you allow me to go alone； else the people
would believe that I am afraid and want you to lead me。 And I want
to be like the Chevalier Bayard； about whom the Abbe talked with me
to…day。 I want to be sans peur et sans reproche； like Bayard。〃
〃Very well； chevalier；〃 said the queen； with a smile； 〃then walk
alone and free by my side。〃
〃No； mamma； if you will allow me； I will walk before you。 The
knights always walk in advance of the ladies； so as to ward off any
danger which may be in the way。 And I am your knight； mamma； and I
want to be as long as I live。 Will you allow it； my royal lady？〃
〃I allow it！ So go in front； Chevalier Louis Charles！ We will take
the same way back by which we came。〃
The dauphin sprang over the little square in front of the pavilion；
and down the alley which led to the Arcadia Walk along the side of
the quay。
Before the little staircase which led up to this walk； he stopped
and turned his pretty head round to the queen； who； followed by the
two lackeys； was walking slowly and quietly along。
〃Well； Chevalier Bayard；〃 asked the queen； with a smile； 〃what are
you stopping for？〃
〃I am only waiting for your majesty；〃 replied the child； gravely。
〃Here is where my knightly service commences； for here it is that
danger begins。〃
〃It is true；〃 said the queen； as she stopped at the foot of the
steps and listened to the loud shouting which now became audible。
〃One would think that a storm had been Sweeping over the ocean；
there is such a thundering sound。 But you know； my son； that the
storms lie in God's hand； and that He protects those who trust in
Him。 Think of that； my child； and do not be afraid！〃
〃Oh； I am not afraid！〃 cried the boy； and he sprang up the stairs
like a gazelle。
The queen quickened her steps a little； and seemed to be giving her
whole attention to her son； who went before her with such a happy
flow of spirits； and appeared to hear nothing of what was passing
around her。 And yet； behind the fence which ran along the left side
of the Arcadia Walk all the way to the quay； was a dense mass of
people； head behind head； and all their blazing eyes were directed
at the queen； and words of hate； ma