marie antoinette and her son-第13章

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of　the　miller　in　his　white　garments；　with　his　smiling；　meal　powdered
face；　and　with　the　white　cap　upon　his　head。

The　queen　uttered　an　exclamation　of　delight；　and　ran　with　quick
steps　toward　the　mill。　But　before　she　could　reach　it；　the　door　of
the　official's　house　opposite　opened；　and　the　mayor；　in　his　black
costume；　and　with　the　broad　white　ribbon　around　his　neck；　the
Spanish　cane；　with　a　gold　knob；　in　his　hand；　and　wearing　his　black；
three…cornered　hat；　issued　from　the　dwelling。　He　advanced　directly
to　Marie　Antoinette；　and　resting　his　hands　upon　his　sides　and
assuming　a　threatening　mien；　placed　himself　in　front　of　her。

〃We　are　very　much　dissatisfied　with　you；　for　you　neglect　your　duties
of　hospitality　in　a　most　unbecoming　manner。　We　must　have　you　give
your　testimony　why　you　have　come　so　late；　for　the　flowers　are　all
hanging　their　heads；　the　nightingales　will　not　sing　any　more；　and
the　lambs　in　the　meadow　will　not　touch　the　sweetest　grass。　Every
thing　is　parching　and　dying　because　you　are　not　here；　and　with
desire　to　see　you。〃

〃That　is　not　true；〃　cried　another　merry　voice；　the　window　of　the
school　house　opened　with　a　rattle；　and　the　jolly　young　schoolmaster
looked　out　and　threatened　with　his　rod　the　grave　mayor。

〃How　can　you　say；　sir；　that　every　thing　is　going　to　ruin？　Am　I　not
here　to　keep　the　whole　together？　Since　the　unwise　people　stopped
learning；　I　have　become　the　schoolmaster　of　the　dear　kine；　and　am
giving　them　lessons　in　the　art　of　making　life　agreeable。　I　am　the
dancing　master　of　the　goats；　and　have　opened　a　ballet　school　for　the
kids。〃

Marie　Antoinette　laughed　aloud。　〃Mister　schoolmaster；〃　said　she；　〃I
am　very　desirous　to　have　a　taste　of　your　skill；　and　I　desire　you　to
give　a　ballet　display　this　afternoon　upon　the　great　meadow。　So　far
as　you　are　concerned；　Mr。　Mayor；〃　she　said；　with　a　laughing　nod；　〃I
desire　you　to　exercise　a　little　forbearance；　and　to　pardon　some
things　in　me　for　my　youth's　sake。〃

〃As　if　my　dear　sister…in…law　now　needed　any　looking　after！〃　cried
the　mayor；　with　an　emphatic　tone。

〃Ah；　my　Lord　de　Provence；〃　said　the　queen；　smiling；　〃you　are　falling
out　of　your　part；　and　forgetting　two　things。　The　first；　that　I　am
not　the　queen　here；　and　the　second；　that　here　in　Trianon　all
flatteries　are　forbidden。〃

〃It　lies　in　you；　whether　the　truth　should　appear　as　flattery；〃
answered　the　Count　de　Provence；　slightly　bowing。

〃That　is　an　answer　worthy　of　a　scholar；〃　cried　the　schoolmaster；
Count　d'Artois。　〃Brother；　you　do　not　know　the　A　B　C　of　gallantry。
You　must　go　to　school　to　me。〃

〃I　do　not　doubt；　brother　Charles；　that　in　this　thing　I　could　learn
very　much　of　you；〃　said　the　Count　de　Provence；　smiling。　〃Meanwhile；
I　am　not　sure　that　my　wife　would　be　satisfied　with　the　instruction。〃

〃Some　time　we　will　ask　her　about　it；〃　said　the　queen。　〃Good…by；　my
brothers；　I　must　first　greet　my　dear　miller。〃

She　rushed　forward；　sprang　with　a　flying　step　up　the　little　wooden
stairway；　and　threw　both　her　arms　around　the　neck　of　the　miller；
who；　laughingly；　pressed　her　to　his　heart；　and　drew　her　within　the
mill。

〃I　thank　you；　Louis！〃　cried　the　queen；　bending　forward　and　pressing
the　hand　of　her　husband　to　her　lips。　〃What　a　pleasant　surprise　you
have　prepared　for　me；　and　how　good　it　is　in　you　to　meet　me　here　in
my　pleasant　plantation！〃

〃Did　you　not　say　but　lately　that　you　wanted　this　masquerade？〃　asked
the　king；　with　a　pleasant　smile。　〃Did　not　you　yourself　assign　the
parts；　and　appoint　me　to　be　the　miller；　the　Count　de　Provence　to　be
mayor；　and　the　whimsical　Artois　to　be　schoolmaster　de　par　la　reine；
as　it　runs　here　in　Trianon；　and　do　you　wonder　now　that　we；　as　it
becomes　the　obedient；　follow　our　queen's　commands；　and　undertake　the
charge　which　she　intrusts　to　us？〃　〃Oh；　Louis；　how　good　you　are！〃
said　the　queen；　with　tears　in　her　eyes。　〃I　know　indeed　how　little
pleasure　you；　so　far　as　you　yourself　are　concerned；　find　in　these
foolish　sports　and　idle　acts；　and　yet　you　sacrifice　your　own　wishes
and　take　part　in　our　games。〃　〃That　is　because　I　love　you！〃　said　the
king　with　simplicity；　and　a　smile　of　pleasure　beautified　his　broad；
good　natured　face。　〃Yes；　Marie；　I　love　you　tenderly；　and　it　gives　me
joy　to　contribute　to　your　happiness。〃

The　queen　gently　laid　her　arm　around　Louis's　neck；　and　let　her　head
fall　upon　his　shoulder。　〃Do　you　still　know；　Louis；〃　asked　she；　〃do
you　still　know　what　you　said　to　me　when　you　gave　Trianon　to　me？〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　king；　shaking　his　head　slowly。　〃You　said　to　me；
'You　love　flowers。　I　will　present　to　you　a　whole　bouquet。　I　give　you
Little　Trianon。'　＇Footnote：　The　very　words　of　the　king。See
〃Memoire　de　Marquis　de　Crequy；〃　vol。　iv。＇　My　dear　sire！　you　have
given　me　not　only　a　bouquet　of　flowers；　but　a　bouquet　of　pleasant
hours；　of　happy　years；　for　which　I　thank　you；　and　you　alone。〃

〃And　may　this　bouquet　never　wither；　Marie！〃　said　the　king；　laying
his　hand　as　if　in　blessing　on　the　head　of　his　wife；　and　raising　his
good；　blue　eyes　with　a　pious　and　prayerful　look。　〃But；　my　good
woman；〃　said　he　then；　after　a　little　pause；　〃you　quite　let　me　forget
the　part　I　have　to　play；　and　the　mill　wheel　is　standing　still　again；
since　the　miller　is　not　there。　It　is；　besides；　in　wretched　order；
and　it　is　full　needful　that　I　practise　my　art　of　black　smith　here　a
little；　and　put　better　screws　and　springs　in　the　machine。　But
listen！　what　kind　of　song　is　that　without？〃

〃Those　are　the　peasants　greeting　us　with　their　singing；〃　said　the
queen；　smiling。　〃Come；　Mr。　Miller；　let　us　show　ourselves　to　them。〃

She　drew　the　king　out　upon　the　small　staircase。　Directly　at　the　foot
of　it　stood　the　king's　two　brothers；　the　Counts　de　Provence　and
Artois；　as　chief　official　and　schoolmaster；　and　behind　them　the
duchesses　and　princesses；　dukes　and　counts；　arrayed　as　peasants。　In
united　chorus　they　greeted　the　mistress　and　the　miller：

〃Oil　peut…on　etre　mieux；　Qu'au　seiu　de　sa　famille？〃

The　queen　smiled；　and　yet　tears　glittered　in　her　eyes；　tears　of　joy。

Those　were　happy　hours　which　the　royal　pair　spent　that　day　in
Trianonhours　of　such　bright　sunshine　that　Marie　Antoinette　quite
forgot　the　sad　clouds　of　the　morning；　and　gave　herself　undisturbed
to　the　enjoyment　of　this　simple；　country　life。　They　sat　down　to　a
country　dinnera　slight；　simple　repast；　brought　together　from　the
resources　of　the　hen…coop；　the　mill；　and　the　milk…room。　Then　the
whole　company　went　out　to　lie　down　in　the　luxuriant　grass　which　grew
on　the　border　of　the　little　grove；　and　looked　at　the　cows　grazing
before　them　on　the　meadow；　and　with　stately　dignity　pursuing　the
serious　occupation　of　chewing　the　cud。　But　as　peasants　have
something　else　to　do　than　to　live　and　enjoy；　their　mistress；　Marie
Antoinette；　soon　left　her　resting…place　to　set　her　people　a　good
example　in　working。　The　spinning…wheel　was　brought　and　set　upon　a
low　stool；　Marie　Antoinette　began　to　spin。　How　quickly　the　wheel
began　to　turn；　as　if　it　were　the　wheel　of　fortuneto…day　bringing
joy；　and　to…morrow　calamity！

The　evening　has　not　yet　come；　and　the　wheel　of　fortune　is　yet
turning；　yet　calamity　is　there。

Marie　Antoinette　does　not　yet　know　it；　her　eye　still　beams　with　joy；
a　happy　smile　still　plays　upon　her　rosy　lips。　She　is　sitting　now
with　her　company　by　the　lake；　with　the　hook　in　her　hand；　and　looking
with　laughing　face　and　fixed　attention　at　the　rod；　and　crying　aloud
as　often　as　she　catches　a　fish。　For　these　fishes　are　to　serve　as
supper　for　the　company；　and　the　queen　has　ceremoniously　invited　her
husband　to　an　evening　meal；　which　she　herself　will　serve　and
prepare。　The　queen　smiles　still　and　is　happy；　her　spinning…wheel　is
silent；　but　the　wheel　of　fate　is　moving　still。

The　king　is　no　longer　there。　He　has　withdrawn　into　the　mill　to　rest
himself。

And　yet　there　he　is　not　alone。　Who　ventures　to　disturb　him？　It　must
be　something　very　serious。　For　it　is　well　known　that　the　king　very
seldom　goes　to　Trianon；　and　that　when　he　is　there　he　wishes　to　be
entirely　free　from　business。

And　yet　he　is　disturbed　today；　yet　the　premier；　Baron　de　Breteuil；
is　come　to　seek　the　miller　of　Little　Trianon；　and　to　beseech　him
even　there　to　be　the　king　again。




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