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