the memoirs of marie antoinette-第25章

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ng　were　not　with　her。　　From　that　time　she　was　accompanied　only　by　a　single　valet　de　chambre　and　two　footmen。　　All　the　changes　made　by　Marie　Antoinette　were　of　the　same　description；　a　disposition　gradually　to　substitute　the　simple　customs　of　Vienna　for　those　of　Versailles　was　more　injurious　to　her　than　she　could　possibly　have　imagined。

When　the　King　slept　in　the　Queen's　apartment　he　always　rose　before　her；　the　exact　hour　was　communicated　to　the　head　femme　de　chambre；　who　entered；　preceded　by　a　servant　of　the　bedchamber　bearing　a　taper；　she　crossed　the　room　and　unbolted　the　door　which　separated　the　Queen's　apartment　from　that　of　the　King。　　She　there　found　the　first　valet　de　chambre　for　the　quarter；　and　a　servant　of　the　chamber。　　They　entered；　opened　the　bed　curtains　on　the　King's　side；　and　presented　him　slippers　generally；　as　well　as　the　dressing…gown；　which　he　put　on；　of　gold　or　silver　stuff。　　The　first　valet　de　chambre　took　down　a　short　sword　which　was　always　laid　within　the　railing　on　the　King's　side。　　When　the　King　slept　with　the　Queen；　this　sword　was　brought　upon　the　armchair　appropriated　to　the　King；　and　which　was　placed　near　the　Queen's　bed；　within　the　gilt　railing　which　surrounded　the　bed。　　The　first　femme　de　chambre　conducted　the　King　to　the　door；　bolted　it　again；　and；　leaving　the　Queen's　chamber；　did　not　return　until　the　hour　appointed　by　her　Majesty　the　evening　before。　　At　night　the　Queen　went　to　bed　before　the　King；　the　first　femme　de　chambre　remained　seated　at　the　foot　of　her　bed　until　the　arrival　of　his　Majesty；　in　order；　as　in　the　morning；　to　see　the　King's　attendants　out　and　bolt　the　door　after　them。　　The　Queen　awoke　habitually　at　eight　o'clock；　and　breakfasted　at　nine；　frequently　in　bed；　and　sometimes　after　she　had　risen；　at　a　table　placed　opposite　her　couch。

In　order　to　describe　the　Queen's　private　service　intelligibly；　it　must　be　recollected　that　service　of　every　kind　was　honour；　and　had　not　any　other　denomination。　　To　do　the　honours　of　the　service　was　to　present　the　service　to　a　person　of　superior　rank；　who　happened　to　arrive　at　the　moment　it　was　about　to　be　performed。　　Thus；　supposing　the　Queen　asked　for　a　glass　of　water；　the　servant　of　the　chamber　handed　to　the　first　woman　a　silver　gilt　waiter；　upon　which　were　placed　a　covered　goblet　and　a　small　decanter；　but　should　the　lady　of　honour　come　in；　the　first　woman　was　obliged　to　present　the　waiter　to　her；　and　if　Madame　or　the　Comtesse　d'Artois　came　in　at　the　moment；　the　waiter　went　again　from　the　lady　of　honour　into　the　hands　of　the　Princess　before　it　reached　the　Queen。　　It　must　be　observed；　however；　that　if　a　princess　of　the　blood　instead　of　a　princess　of　the　family　entered；　the　service　went　directly　from　the　first　woman　to　the　princess　of　the　blood；　the　lady　of　honour　being　excused　from　transferring　to　any　but　princesses　of　the　royal　family。　　Nothing　was　presented　directly　to　the　Queen；　her　handkerchief　or　her　gloves　were　placed　upon　a　long　salver　of　gold　or　silver　gilt；　which　was　placed　as　a　piece　of　furniture　of　ceremony　upon　a　side…table；　and　was　called　a　gantiere。　　The　first　woman　presented　to　her　in　this　manner　all　that　she　asked　for；　unless　the　tirewoman；　the　lady　of　honour；　or　a　princess　were　present；　and　then　the　gradation　pointed　out　in　the　instance　of　the　glass　of　water　was　always　observed。

Whether　the　Queen　breakfasted　in　bed　or　up；　those　entitled　to　the　petites　entrees　were　equally　admitted；　this　privilege　belonged　of　right　to　her　chief　physician；　chief　surgeon；　physician　in　ordinary；　reader；　closet　secretary；　the　King's　four　first　valets　de　chambre　and　their　reversioners；　and　the　King's　chief　physicians　and　surgeons。　　There　were　frequently　from　ten　to　twelve　persons　at　this　first　entree。　　The　lady　of　honour　or　the　superintendent；　if　present；　placed　the　breakfast　equipage　upon　the　bed；　the　Princesse　de　Lamballe　frequently　performed　that　office。

As　soon　as　the　Queen　rose；　the　wardrobe　woman　was　admitted　to　take　away　the　pillows　and　prepare　the　bed　to　be　made　by　some　of　the　valets　de　chambre。　　She　undrew　the　curtains；　and　the　bed　was　not　generally　made　until　the　Queen　was　gone　to　mass。　　Generally；　excepting　at　St。　　Cloud；　where　the　Queen　bathed　in　an　apartment　below　her　own；　a　slipper　bath　was　rolled　into　her　room；　and　her　bathers　brought　everything　that　was　necessary　for　the　bath。　　The　Queen　bathed　in　a　large　gown　of　English　flannel　buttoned　down　to　the　bottom；。　　its　sleeves　throughout；　as　well　as　the　collar；　were　lined　with　linen。　　When　she　came　out　of　the　bath　the　first　woman　held　up　a　cloth　to　conceal　her　entirely　from　the　sight　of　her　women；　and　then　threw　it　over　her　shoulders。　　The　bathers　wrapped　her　in　it　and　dried　her　completely。　　She　then　put　on　a　long　and　wide　open　chemise；　entirely　trimmed　with　lace；　and　afterwards　a　white　taffety　bed…　gown。　　The　wardrobe　woman　warmed　the　bed；　the　slippers　were　of　dimity；　trimmed　with　lace。　　Thus　dressed；　the　Queen　went　to　bed　again；　and　the　bathers　and　servants　of　the　chamber　took　away　the　bathing　apparatus。　　The　Queen；　replaced　in　bed；　took　a　book　or　her　tapestry　work。　　On　her　bathing　mornings　she　breakfasted　in　the　bath。　　The　tray　was　placed　on　the　cover　of　the　bath。　　These　minute　details　are　given　here　only　to　do　justice　to　the　Queen's　scrupulous　modesty。　　Her　temperance　was　equally　remarkable；　she　breakfasted　on　coffee　or　chocolate；　at　dinner　ate　nothing　but　white　meat；　drank　water　only；　and　supped　on　broth；　a　wing　of　a　fowl；　and　small　biscuits；　which　she　soaked　in　a　glass　of　water。

The　tirewoman　had　under　her　order　a　principal　under…tirewoman；　charged　with　the　care　and　preservation　of　all　the　Queen's　dresses；　two　women　to　fold　and　press　such　articles　as　required　it；　two　valets；　and　a　porter　of　the　wardrobe。　　The　latter　brought　every　morning　into　the　Queen's　apartments　baskets　covered　with　taffety；　containing　all　that　she　was　to　wear　during　the　day；　and　large　cloths　of　green　taffety　covering　the　robes　and　the　full　dresses。　　The　valet　of　the　wardrobe　on　duty　presented　every　morning　a　large　book　to　the　first　femme　de　chambre；　containing　patterns　of　the　gowns；　full　dresses；　undresses；　etc。　　Every　pattern　was　marked；　to　show　to　which　sort　it　belonged。　　The　first　femme　de　chambre　presented　this　book　to　the　Queen　on　her　awaking；　with　a　pincushion；　her　Majesty　stuck　pins　in　those　articles　which　she　chose　for　the　day；　…one　for　the　dress；　one　for　the　afternoon…undress；　and　one　for　the　full　evening　dress　for　card　or　supper　parties　in　the　private　apartments。　　The　book　was　then　taken　back　to　the　wardrobe；　and　all　that　was　wanted　for　the　day　was　soon　after　brought　in　in　large　taffety　wrappers。　　The　wardrobe　woman；　who　had　the　care　of　the　linen；　in　her　turn　brought　in　a　covered　basket　containing　two　or　three　chemises　and　handkerchiefs。　　The　morning　basket　was　called　pret　du　jour。　　In　the　evening　she　brought　in　one　containing　the　nightgown　and　nightcap；　and　the　stockings　for　the　next　morning；　this　basket　was　called　pret　de　la　nuit。　　They　were　in　the　department　of　the　lady　of　honour；　the　tirewoman　having　nothing　to　do　with　the　linen。　　Nothing　was　put　in　order　or　taken　care　of　by　the　Queen's　women。　　As　soon　as　the　toilet　was　over；　the　valets　and　porter　belonging　to　the　wardrobe　were　called　in；　and　they　carried　all　away　in　a　heap；　in　the　taffety　wrappers；　to　the　tirewoman's　wardrobe；　where　all　were　folded　up　again；　hung　up；　examined；　and　cleaned　with　so　much　regularity　and　care　that　even　the　cast…off　clothes　scarcely　looked　as　if　they　had　been　worn。　　The　tirewoman's　wardrobe　consisted　of　three　large　rooms　surrounded　with　closets；　some　furnished　with　drawers　and　others　with　shelves；　there　were　also　large　tables　in　each　of　these　rooms；　on　which　the　gowns　and　dresses　were　spread　out　and　folded　up。

For　the　winter　the　Queen　had　generally　twelve　full　dresses；　twelve　undresses　called　fancy　dresses；　and　twelve　rich　hoop　petticoats　for　the　card　and　supper　parties　in　the　smaller　apartments。

She　had　as　many　for　the　summer；　those　for　the　spring　served　likewise　for　the　autumn。　　All　these　dresses　were　discarded　at　the　end　of　each　season；　unless；　indeed；　she　retained　some　that　she　particularly　liked。　　I　am　not　speaking　of　muslin　or　cambric　gowns；　or　others　of　the　same　kindthey　were　lately　introduced；　but　such　as　these