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up to the disturbed countenance of his mother。
〃Mamma queen；〃 he whispered； pressing fondly up to her； 〃mamma
queen； I love you and everybody loves you； and my dear brother in
heaven prays for you。〃
With a loud cry of pain； that escaped her against her will； the
queen pressed her son to her heart and covered his head with her
kisses。
〃Love me； my son； love me；〃 she whispered； choking； 〃and may thy
brother in heaven pray for me that I may soon be released from the
pains which I suffer！〃
But as she heard now the voice of the king without； taking leave of
his retinue with friendly words； Marie Antoinette hastily dried her
tears； and putting down the dauphin； whispered to him； 〃Do not tell
papa that I have been crying；〃 and in her wonted lofty bearing； with
a smile upon her trembling lips； she went to meet her husband。
As it grew late and dark in the evening； several baggage…wagons
heavily laden and tightly closed moved noiselessly and hastily from
the inner courts of the palace； and took the direction toward the
country。 In these carriages were the Count d'Artois； the Duke
d'Angouleme； and the Duke de Berry； the Prince de Conde； the Duke de
Bourbon； and the Duke d'Enghein； who were leaving the kingdom in
secret flight。
Louis XVI。 had tried to quiet the anxieties of his brother； the
Count d'Artois； by advising him to leave France for some time； and
to remain in a foreign land； until the times should be more quiet
and peaceful。 The other princes； although not so sorely threatened
with popular rage as the Count d'Artois； whose head had already been
demanded at Paris； had； with the exception of the king's other
brother； been so overcome with their anxieties as to resolve upon
flight。 They were followed on the next day by the new ministers； who
now； yielding to the demands of the National Assembly； had handed in
their resignation to the king； but did not consider it safe to
remain within range of the capital。
But another offering； and one more painful to the queen； had to be
made to the hatred of the people and the hostile demands of the
National Assembly。 Marie Antoinette herself felt it； and had the
courage to express it。
Her friends the Polignacs must be sent away。 In all the libellous
pamphlets which had been directed against the queen； and which
Brienne had sedulously given to her； it was one of the main charges
which had been hurled against her； that the queen had given to her
friends enormous sums from the state's treasury； that the Duchess
Julia； as governess of the royal children； and her husband the Duke
de Polignac； as director of the royal mews； received a yearly salary
of two million francs； and that the whole Polignac family together
drew nearly six million francs yearly from the national treasury。
Marie Antoinette knew that the people hated the Polignacs on this
account； and she wanted at least to put her friends in a place of
safety。
At the same hour in which the brothers of the king and the princes
of the royal family left Versailles； the Duke and the Duchess de
Polignac were summoned to the queen； and Marie Antoinette had told
them with trembling voice that they too must fly； that they must
make their escape that very night。 But the duchess； as well as the
duke； refused almost with indignation to comply with the request of
the queen。 The duchess； who before had been characterized by so calm
a manner； now showed for the first time a glow of affection for her
royal friend； and unreckoning tenderness。 〃Let us remain with you；
Marie；〃 she said； choking； and throwing both her arms around the
neck of the queen。 〃Do not drive me from you。 I will not go； I will
share your perils and will die for you； if it must be。〃
But Marie Antoinette found now in her great love the power to resist
these requeststhe power to hold back the tears which started from
her heart and to withdraw herself from the arms of her friend。
〃It must be；〃 she said。 〃In the name of our friendship I conjure
you； Julia； take your departure at once； for； if you are not willing
to； I shall die with anxiety about you。 There is still time for you
and yours to escape the rage of my enemies。 They hate you not for
your own sake； and how would it be possible to hate my Julia？ It is
for my sake； and because they hate me； that they persecute my
dearest friend。 Go； Julia； you ought not to be the victim of your
friendship for me。〃
〃No； I remain；〃 said the duchess； passionately。 〃Nothing shall
separate me from my queen。〃
〃Duke；〃 implored the queen； 〃speak the word； say that it is
necessary for you to fly！〃
〃Your majesty；〃 replied the duke； gravely； 〃I can only repeat what
Julia says： nothing shall separate us from our queen。 If we have in
the days of prosperity enjoyed the favor of being permitted to be
near your majesty； we must claim it as the highest favor to be
permitted to be near you in the days of your misfortune！〃
Just then the door opened and the king entered。
〃Sire；〃 said the queen； as she advanced to meet him； 〃help me to
persuade these noble friends that they ought to leave us！〃
〃The queen is right；〃 said Louis； sadly； 〃they must go at once。 Our
misfortune compels us to part with all who love and esteem us。 I
have just said farewell to my brother； now I say the same to you； I
command you to go。 Pity us； but do not lose a minute's time。 Take
your children and your servants with you。 Reckon at all times upon
me。 We shall meet again in happier days； after our dangers are past；
and then you shall both resume your old places。 Farewell！ Once more
I command you to go！〃 ＇Footnote： The king's own words。 This intense
parting scene is strictly historical； according to the concurrent
communications of Montjoie in his 〃Histoire de Marie Antoinette。〃
Campan； Mem。； ii。 Weber； Mem。； i。＇
And as the king perceived that the tears were starting into his
eyes； and that his voice was trembling； he silently bowed to his
friends； and hastily withdrew。
〃You have heard what the king commands；〃 said Marie Antoinette；
eagerly； 〃and you will not venture to disobey him。 Hear also this： I
too； the Queen of France； command you to take your departure this
very hour。〃
The duke bowed low before the queen； who stood with pale cheeks； but
erect； and with a noble air。
〃Your majesty has commanded； and it becomes us to obey。 We shall
go。〃
The duchess sank； with a loud cry of grief； on her knee before the
queen； and buried her face in the royal robe。
Marie Antoinette did not disturb her； did not venture to speak to
her； for she knew that； with the first word which she should utter；
the pain of her heart would find expression on her lips； and she
would be composed； she would not let her friend see how severe the
sacrifice was which her love compelled her to make。
〃Let me remain with you；〃 implored the duchess； 〃do not drive me
from you； Marie； my Marie！〃
The queen turned her great eyes upward； and her looks were a prayer
to God to give her power and steadfastness。 Twice then she attempted
to speak； twice her voice refused to perform its duty； and she
remained silent； wrestling with her grief； and at last overcoming
it。
〃Julia；〃 she saidand with every word her voice became firmer and
stronger〃 Julia； we must part。 I should be doubly unhappy to draw
you and yours into my misfortunes； it will； in all my troubles； be a
consolation to me； that I have been able to save you。 I do not say；
as the king did； that we shall meet again in happier days； and after
our perils are pastfor I do not believe in any more happy dayswe
shall not be able to survive those perils； but shall perish in them。
I say； farewell； to meet not in this； but in a better world！ Not a
word more。 I cannot bear it！ Your queen commands you to go at once！
Farewell！〃
She extended her hand firmly to her； but she could not look at her
friend； who lay at her feet weeping and choking； she saluted the
duke with a mere wave of the hand； turned quickly away； and hastened
into the adjoining room； and then on till she reached her own
toilet…room； where Madame de Campan was awaiting her。
〃Campan；〃 she cried； in tones of anguish； 〃Campan； it is done！ I
have lost my friend！ I shall never see her again。 Close the door；
draw the bolt； that she cannot come in； II shall die！〃 And the
queen uttered a loud cry； and sank in a swoon。
At midnight two well…packed carriages drove out of the inner courts
of the palace。 They were the Polignacs； they were leaving France； to
take refuge in Switzerland。
In the first carriage was the Duchess de Polignac； with her husband
and her daughter。 She held two letters in her hand。 Campan had given
her both； in the name of the queen； as she was stepping into the
carriage。
One was directed to Minister Necker； who； after his dismissal； had
withdrawn to Basle。 Since the National Assembly； the clubs； the
whole population of Paris； desired Necker's return； and declared him
to be the only man who could restore the shattered finances of the
country； the queen had persuaded her husband to recall the minister；
although an opponent of hers； and appoint him again minister of
finance。 The letter of the queen； which the Duchess Julia was
commis