〃Amen；　amen；〃　whispered　all　present。
  〃Amen；〃　said　the　king；　closing　with　gentle　pressure　the　open　eyes　of
  his　son。　〃God　has　taken　you　to　Himself；　my　son；　perhaps　because　He
  wanted　to　preserve　you　from　much　trouble　and　sorrow。　Blessed　be　His
  name！〃
  But　the　queen　still　bowed　over　the　cold　face　of　the　child；　and
  kissed　his　lips。　〃Farewell；　my　son；〃　she　whispered；　〃farewell！　Ah！；
  why　could　I　not　die　with　youwith　you　fly　from　this　pitiful；
  sorrow…stricken　world？〃
  Then；　as　if　the　queen　regretted　the　words　which　the　mother　had
  spoken　with　sighs；　Marie　Antoinette　rose　from　her　knees　and　turned
  to　the　priest；　who　was　sprinkling　the　corpse　of　the　dauphin　with
  holy　water。
  〃Father；〃　said　she；　〃the　children　of　poor　parents；　who　may　be　born
  to…day　in　Versailles；　are　each　to　receive　from　me　the　sum　of　a
  thousand　francs。　I　wish　that　the　death…bed　of　my　son　may　be　a　day　of
  joy　for　the　poor　who　have　not；　like　me；　lost　a　child；　but　gained
  one；　and　that　the　lips　of　happy　mothers　may　bless　the　day　on　which
  my　boy　died。　Have　the　goodness　to　bring　me　to…morrow　morning　a　list
  of　the　children　born　to…day。〃
  〃Come；　Marie；〃　said　the　king；　〃the　body　of　our　son　belongs　no　more
  to　the　living；　but　to　the　grave　of　out　ancestors　in　St。　Denis；　his
  soul　to　God。　The　dauphin　is　dead！　Long　live　the　dauphin！　Madame　de
  Polignac；　conduct　the　dauphin　to　us　in　the　cabinet　of　his　mother。〃
  And　with　the　proud　and　dignified　bearing　which　was　peculiar　to　the
  king　in　great　and　momentous　epochs；　he　extended　his　arm　to　the　queen
  and　conducted　her　out　of　the　death…chamber；　and　through　the　adjacent
  apartments；　to　her　cabinet。
  〃Ah！〃　cried　the　queen；　〃here　we　are　alone；　here　I　can　weep　for　my
  poor　lost　child。〃
  And　she　threw　her　arms　around　the　neck　of　her　husband；　and；　leaning
  her　head　upon　his　breast；　wept　aloud。
  The　king　pressed　her　closely　to　his　heart；　and　the　tears　which
  flowed　from　his　own　eyes　fell　in　hot　drops　upon　the　head　of　the
  queen。
  Neither　saw　the　door　beyond　lightly　open；　and　the　Duchess　de
  Polignac　appear　there。　But　when　she　saw　the　royal　pair　in　close
  embrace；　when　she　heard　their　loud　weeping；　she　drew　back；　stooped
  down　to　the　little　boy　who　stood　by　her　side；　whispered　a　few　words
  to　him；　and；　while　gently　pushing　him　forward；　drew　back　herself；
  and　gently　closed　the　door　behind　them。　The　little　fellow　stood　a
  moment　irresolutely　at　the　door；　fixing　his　eyes　now　upon　his　father
  and　mother；　now　upon　the　nosegay　of　violets　and　roses　which　he
  carried　in　his　hand。　The　little　Louis　Charles　was　of　that　sweet　and
  touching　beauty　that　brings　tears　into　one's　eyes；　and　fills　the
  heart　with　sadness；　because　the　thought　cannot　be　suppressed；　that
  life；　with　its　rough；　wintry　storms；　will　have　no　pity　on　this
  tender　blossom　of　innocence；　and　that　the　beaming；　angel…face　of　the
  child　must　one　day　be　changed　into　the　clouded；　weather…beaten；
  furrowed　face　of　the　man。　A　cheering　sight　to　look　upon　was　the
  little；　delicate　figure　of　the　four…year…old　boy；　pleasing　in　his
  whole　appearance。　Morocco　boots；　with　red　tips；　covered　his　little
  feet；　broad　trousers；　of　dark…blue　velvet；　came　to　his　knees；　and
  were　held　together　at　the　waist　by　a　blue　silk　sash；　whose　lace…
  tipped　ends　fell　at　his　left　side。　He　wore　a　blue　velvet　jacket；
  with　a　tastefully　embroidered　lace　ruffle　around　the　neck。　The
  round；　rosy　face；　with　the　ruby　lips；　the　dimple　in　the　chin；　the
  large　blue　eyes；　shaded　by　long；　dark　lashes；　and　crowned　by　the
  broad；　lofty　brow；　was　rimmed　around　with　a　profusion　of　golden
  hair；　which　fell　in　long；　heavy　locks　upon　his　shoulders　and　over
  his　neck。　The　child　was　as　beautiful　to　look　upon　as　one　of　the
  angels　in　Raphael's　〃Sistine　Madonna；〃　and　he　might　have　been　taken
  for　one；　had　it　not　been　for　the　silver…embroidered；　brilliant　star
  upon　his　left　side。　This　star；　which　designated　his　princely　rank；
  was　for　the　pretty　child　the　seal　of　his　mortalitythe　seal　which
  ruin　had　already　impressed　upon　his　innocent　child's　breast。
  One　moment　the　boy　stood　indecisively　there；　looking　at　his　weeping
  parents；　then　he　turned　quickly　forward；　and；　holding　up　his
  nosegay；　he　said：　〃Mamma；　I　have　brought　you　some　flowers　from　my
  garden。〃
  Marie　Antoinette　raised　her　head；　and　smiled　through　her　tears　as
  she　looked　at　her　son。　The　king　loosened　his　embrace　from　the　queen；
  in　order　to　lift　up　the　prince。
  〃Marie；〃　said　he；　holding　him　up　to　his　wife；　〃Marie；　this　is　our
  sonthis　is　the　Dauphin　of　France。〃
  Marie　Antoinette　took　his　head　between　her　hands；　and　looked　long；
  with　tears　in　her　eyes；　and　yet　smiling　all　the　while；　into　the
  lovely；　rosy　face　of　her　boy。　Then　she　stooped　down；　and　impressed　a
  long；　tender　kiss　upon　his　smooth　forehead。
  〃God　love　you；　my　child！〃　said　she；　solemnly。　〃God　bless　you；
  Dauphin　of　France！　May　the　storms　which　now　darken　our　horizon；　have
  long　been　past　when　you　shall　ascend　the　throne　of　your　fathers！　God
  bless　and　defend　you；　Dauphin　of　France！〃
  〃But；　mamma；〃　asked　the　boy；　timidly；　〃why　do　you　call　me　dauphin
  to…day？　I　am　your　little　Louis；　and　I　am　called　Duke　de　Normandy。〃
  〃My　son；〃　said　the　king；　solemnly；　〃God　has　been　pleased　to　give　you
  another　name　and　another　calling。　Your　poor　brother；　Louis；　has　left
  us　forever。　He　has　gone　to　God；　and　you　are　now　Dauphin　of　France！〃
  〃And　God　grant　that　it　be　for　your　good；〃　said　the　queen；　with　a
  sigh。
  The　little　prince　slowly　shook　his　locks。　〃It　certainly　is　not　for
  my　good；〃　said　he；　〃else　mamma　would　not　weep。〃
  〃She　is　weeping；　my　child；〃　said　the　queen〃　she　is　weeping；
  because　your　brother；　who　was　the　dauphin；　has　left　us。〃
  〃And　will　he　never　come　back？〃　asked　the　child；　eagerly。
  〃No；　Louis；　he　never　will　come　back。〃
  The　boy　threw　both　his　arms　around　the　neck　of　the　queen。　〃Ah！〃　he
  cried；　〃how　can　any　one　ever　leave　his　dear　mamma　and　never　come
  back？　I　will　never　leave　you；　mamma！〃
  〃I　pray　God　you　speak　the　truth；〃　sighed　the　queen；　pressing　him
  tenderly　to　herself。　〃I　pray　God　I　may　die　before　you　both！〃
  〃Not　before　meoh；　not　before　me！〃　ejaculated　the　king；　shuddering。
  〃Without　you；　my　dear　one；　my　life　were　a　desert；　without　you；　the
  King　of　France　were　the　poorest　man　in　the　whole　land！〃
  He　smiled　sadly　at　her。　〃And　with　me　he　will　perhaps　be　the　most
  unfortunate　one；〃　she　whispered　softly；　as　if　to　herself。
  〃Never　unfortunate；　if　you　are　with　me；　and　if　you　love　me；〃　cried
  the　king；　warmly。　〃Weep　no　more；　we　must　overcome　our　grief；　and
  comfort　ourselves　with　what　remains。　I　say　to　you　once　more：　the
  dauphin　is　dead；　long　live　the　dauphin！〃
  〃Papa　king；〃　said　the　boy；　quickly；　〃you　say　the　dauphin　is　dead；
  and　has　left　us。　Has　he　taken　every　thing　away　with　him　that　belongs
  to　him？〃
  〃No；　my　son；　he　has　left　every　thing。　You　are　now　the　dauphin；　and
  some　time　will　be　King　of　France；　for　you　are　the　heir　of　your
  brother。〃
  〃What　does　that　mean；　his　heir？〃　asked　the　child。
  〃It　means；〃　answered　the　king；　〃that　to　you　belong　now　the　titles
  and　honors　of　your　brother。〃
  〃Nothing　but　that？〃　asked　the　prince；　timidly。　〃I　do　not　want　his
  titles　and　honors。〃
  〃You　are　the　heir　to　the　throne；　you　have　now　the　title　of　Dauphin
  of　France。〃
  The　little　one　timidly　grasped　the　hand　of　his　mother；　and　lifted
  his　great　blue　eyes　supplicatingly　to　her。
  〃Mamma　queen；〃　he　whispered；　〃do　you　not　think　the　title　of　Duke　de
  Normandy　sounds　just　as　well；　or　will　you　love　me　more；　if　I　am
  called　Dauphin　of　France？〃
  〃No；　my　son；〃　answered　the　queen；　〃I　shall　not　love　you　better；　and
  I　should　be　very　happy　if　you　were　now　the　Duke　de　Normandy。〃
  〃Then；　mamma；〃　cried　the　boy；　eagerly；　〃I　am　not　at　all　glad　to
  receive　this　new　title。　But　I　should　like　to　know　whether　I　have
  received　any　thing　else　from　my　dear　sick　brother。〃
  〃Any　thing　else？〃　asked　the　king　in　amazement；　〃what　would　you
  desire；　my　child？〃
  The　little　prince　cast　down　his　eyes。　〃I　should　not　like　to　tell；
  papa。　But　if　it　is　true　that　the　dauphin　has　left　us　and　is　not
  coming　back　again；　and　yet　has　not　taken　away　every　thing　which
  belongs　to　him；　there　is　something　which　I　should　very　much　like　to
  have；　and　which　would　please　me　more　than　that　I　am　now　the
  dauphin。〃
  The　king　turned　his　face　inquiringly　to　the　queen。　〃Do　you
  understand；　Marie；　what　he　wants　to　say？〃　he　whispered。
  〃I　think　I　can　guess；〃　answered　Marie　Antoinette　softly；　and　she
  walked　quickly　across　the　room；　opened　the　door　of　the　adjoining
  apartment；　and　whispered　a　few　words　to　the　page　who　was　there。　Then
  she　returned　to　the　king；　but　while　doing　so　she　stepped　upon　the
  bouquet　which　had　fallen　out　of　the　boy's　hands　when　his　father
  lifted　him　up。
  〃Oh；　my　pretty　violets；　my　pretty　roses；〃　cried　the　prince；　sadly；
  and　his　face　put　on　a　sorrowful　expression。　But　he　quickly
  brightened；　and；　looking　up　at　the　queen；　he　said；　smiling；　〃Mamma
  queen；　I　wish　you　always　walked　on　flowers　which　I　have　planted　and
  plucked　for　you！〃
  At　this　moment　the　door　softly　opened；　and　a　little　black　dog
  stepped　in；　and　ran　forward；　whining；　directly　up　to　the　prince。
  〃Moufflet；〃　cried　the　child；　falling　upon　his　knee；　〃Moufflet！〃
  The　little　dog；　with　its　long；　curly　locks　of　hair；　put