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names from which she might choose。 But Marie Antoinette； with proud
composure； refused to accept this offer。 〃We have been deprived of
those who remained faithful to us out of love； and devoted their
services to us as a free gift； and we will not supply their places
by servants who are paid by our enemies。〃
〃Then you will have to wait upon yourselves；〃 cried Manuel； with a
harsh voice。
〃Yes；〃 answered the queen； gently； 〃we will wait upon ourselves； and
take pleasure in it。〃
And they did wait upon themselves； they took the tenderest care one
of another； and performed all these offices with constant readiness。
The king had； happily； been allowed to retain his valet； who dressed
him； who knew all his quiet； moderate ways； and who arranged every
thing for the king in the little study at the Temple； as he had been
accustomed to do in the grand cabinet at Versailles。 The ladies
waited upon themselves； and Marie Antoinette undertook the task of
dressing and undressing the dauphin。
The little fellow was the sunbeam which now and then would light up
even the sombre apartments of the Temple。 With the happy
carelessness of infancy； he had forgotten the past； and did not
think of the future； he lived only in the present； sought to be
happy； and found his happiness when he succeeded in calling a smile
to the pale； proud lips of the queen； or in winning a word of praise
from the king for his industry and his attention。
And thus the days went by with the royal family…monotonous； sad； and
dreary。 No greeting of love； no ray of hope came in from the outer
world； to lighten up the thick walls of the old building。 No one
brought the prisoners news of what was transpiring without。 They
were too well watched for any of their friends to be able to
communicate with them。 This was the greatest trial for the royal
captives。 Not a moment； by day or by night； when the eyes of the
sentries were not directed toward them； and their motions observed！
The doors to the anterooms were constantly open； and in them always
there were officials； with searching looks and with severe faces；
watching the prisoners in the inner rooms。 Even during the night
this trial did not cease； and the Queen of France had to undergo the
indignity of having the door of her sleeping…room constantly open；
while the officials； who spent the night in their arm…chairs in the
anteroom； drank； played； and smoked； always keeping an eye on her
bed； in order to be sure of her presence。
Even when she undressed herself； the doors of the queen's apartment
were not closed； a mere small screen stood at the foot of the bed；
this was removed as soon as the queen had disrobed and lain down。
This daily renewed pain and humiliationthis being watched every
minutewas the heaviest burden that the prisoners of the Temple had
to bear； and the proud heart of Marie Antoinette rose in
exasperation every day against these restraints。 She endeavored to
be patient and to choke the grief that rose within her； and yet she
must sometimes give expression to it in tears and threatening words；
which now fell like cold thunderbolts from the lips of the queen；
and no longer kindled any thing； no longer dashed any thing in
pieces。
Thus August passed and September began； sad； gloomy； and hopeless。
On the morning of the 3d of September； Manuel came to the royal
prisoners； to tell them that Paris was in great excitement； and that
they were not to go into the garden that day as usual about noon；
but were to remain in their rooms。
〃How is it with my friend； Princess Lamballe？〃 asked Marie
Antoinette。
Manuel was perplexed； he even blushed and cast down his eyes； as he
answered that that morning the princess had been taken to the prison
La Force。 Then； in order to divert conversation from this channel；
Manuel told the prisoners about the tidings which had recently
reached Paris； and had thrown the city into such excitement and
rage。
The neighboring powers had made an alliance against France。 The King
of Prussia was advancing with a powerful army； and had already
confronted the French force before Chalons； while the Emperor of
Germany was marching against Alsace。 Marie Antoinette forgot the
confusion and perplexity which Manuel had exhibited； in the
importance of this news。 She hoped again； she found in her elastic
spirit support in these tidings； and began to think of the
possibility of escape。 It did not trouble her that beneath her
windows she heard a furious cry； as the crowd surged up to the
prison walls： 〃The head of the Austrian！ Give us the head of the
Austrian！〃 She had so often heard thatit had been so long the
daily refrain to the sorrowful song of riot which filled Paristhat
it had lost all meaning for Marie Antoinette。
Nor did it disturb her at all that she heard the loud beatings of
drums approaching like muffled thunder； that trumpets were blown；
that musketry rattled； and loud war cries resounded in the distant
streets。
Marie Antoinette paid no heed to this。 She heard constantly ringing
before her ear Manuel's words： 〃The neighboring nations have allied
against France。 The King of Prussia is before Chalons。 The Emperor
of Germany is advancing upon Strasburg。〃 〃0 God of Heaven； be
merciful to us！ Grant to our friends victory over our enemies。
Release us from these sufferings and pains； that our children may at
least find the happiness which for us is buried forever in the
past。〃
And yet Marie Antoinette could speak to no one of her hopes and
fears。 She must breathe her prayer in her own heart alone； for the
municipal officials were there； and the two servants who had been
forced upon the prisoners； Tison and his wife； the paid servants of
their enemies。
Only the brave look and the clearer brow told the king of the hopes
and wishes of his wife； but he responded to them with a faint shrug
and a sad smile。
All at once； after the royal family had sat down to take their
dinner at the round tableall at once there was a stir in the
building which was before so still。 Terrible cries were heard； and
steps advancing up the staircase。 The two officials； who were
sitting in the open anteroom； stood and listened at the door。 This
was suddenly opened； and a third official entered； pale； trembling
with rage； and raising his clinched fists tremblingly against the
king。
〃The enemy is in Verdun；〃 cried he。 〃We shall all be undone； but you
shall be the first to suffer！〃
The king looked quietly at him； but the dauphin； terrified at the
looks of the angry man and his loud voice； burst into a violent fit
of weeping and sobbing； and Marie Antoinette and the little Theresa
strove in vain to quiet the little fellow by gentle words。
A fourth official now entered； and whispered secretly to his
colleagues。
〃Is my family no longer in safety here？〃 asked the king。
The official shrugged his shoulders。 〃The report has gone abroad
that the royal family is no longer in the Temple。 This has excited
the people； and they desire that you all show yourselves at the
windows； but we will not permit it； you shall not show yourselves。
The public must have more confidence in its servants。〃
〃Yes；〃 cried the other official； still raising his fists〃yes； that
it must； but if the enemy come； the royal family shall die！〃
And when at these words the dauphin began to cry aloud again； he
continued： 〃I pity the poor little fellow； but die he must！〃
Meanwhile the cries outside were still louder； and abusive epithets
were distinctly heard directed at the queen。 A fifth official then
came in； followed by some soldiers； in order to assure themselves；
in the name of the people； that the Capet family was still in the
tower。 This official demanded； in an angry voice； that they should
go to the window and show themselves to the people。
〃No； no； they shall not do it；〃 cried the other functionaries。
〃Why not？〃 asked the king。 〃Come； Marie。〃
He extended his hand to her； and advanced with her to the window。
〃No； don't do it！〃 cried the official； rushing to the window。
〃Why not？〃 asked the king； in astonishment。
〃Well；〃 cried the man； with threatening fist； 〃the people want to
show you the head of Lamballe； that you may see how the nation takes
vengeance on its tyrants。〃
At that same instant there arose behind the window…pane a pale head
encircled with long； fair hair； the livid forehead sprinkled with
blood； the eyes lustreless and fixedthe head of Princess Lamballe；
which the people had dressed by a friseur； to hoist it upon a pike
and show it to the queen。
The queen had seen it； staggering she fell back upon a chair； she
gazed fixedly at the window； even after the fearful phantom had
disappeared。 Her lips were open； as if for a cry which had been
silenced by horror。 She did not weep； she did not complain； and even
the caresses of the children； the gentle address of Princess
Elizabeth； and the comforting words of the king could not rouse her
out of this stupefying of her whole nature。
Princess Lamballe had been murdered； and deep in her soul the queen
saw that this was only the prelude to the fearful tragedy； in which
her family would soon be implicated。
Poor Princess L