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so does what is called 'laying taxes' upon them。 Do you understand
me？〃
〃Oh！ yes； papa；〃 cried the child； who had listened with open eyes
and breathless attention； 〃I understand all very well。 But I don't
like it。 It seems to me that if a man is king； every thing belongs
to him； and that the king ought to have all the money so as to give
it to the people。 They ought to ask HIM； and not he THEM！〃
〃In former and more happy times it was so；〃 said the king； with a
sigh。 〃But many kings have misused their power and authority； and
now the king cannot pay out money unless the people understand all
about it and consent！〃
〃Have you given out money； papa； without asking the people's leave？
Was that the reason they came to Versailles yesterday； and were so
wicked； ah！ so very wicked？ For those bad men…they were the people；
were they not？〃
〃No； my son；〃 answered Louis； 〃I hope they were not the people。 The
people cannot come to me in such great masses； they must have their
representatives。 The representatives of the people I have myself
called to me； they are the States…General； which I assembled at
Versailles。 I asked of them money for the outlays which I had to
make for the people； but they asked things of me that I could not
grant； either for my own sake； or for yours； my son； who are some
day to be my successor。 Then wicked men came and stirred up the
people； and told them that I did not love the people any more； and
that I wanted to trouble my subjects。 And the poor people have
believed what these evil advisers and slanderers have told them； and
have been led astray into making the riot against me。 But every
thing will come out right again； and my subjects will see that I
love them； and am ready to share every thing with them。 That is the
reason I have come to Paris； to live here among my people。 It is
certainly not so pleasant as in Versailles； our rooms are not so
fine and convenient； and we do not have the beautiful gardens here
that we had there。 But we must learn to be contented here； and put
up with what we have。 We must remember that there is no one in Paris
better than we； and that the Parisians must acknowledge that the
king loves them； for he has given up his beautiful Versailles； in
order to live with them； and share all their need； and all the
disagreeable things which they have to bear。〃
〃Papa king； I have understood every thing； and I am very much
ashamed that I have complained before。 I promise you； sire；〃 he
continued； with earnest mien； and laying his hand upon his breast；
〃yes； sire； I promise you； that I will take pains to give the people
a good example； and to be really good and kind。 I will never
complain again that we are living in Paris； and I will take pains to
be happy and contented here。〃
And the dauphin kept his word。 He took pains to be contented； he
said not another word about the old pleasant life at Versailles； but
appeared to have forgotten all about ever having been anywhere but
in this great； desolate palace； with its halls filled with faded
tapestry； stately； solemn furniture； their golden adornments having
grown dim； and their upholstery hard； he seemed never to have known
any garden but this； only one little corner of which was set apart
for the royal family； and through the iron gate of which threatening
words were often heard； and spiteful faces seen。
One day； when the dauphin heard such words； and saw such faces
beyond the paling； he shrank back； and ran to his mother； earnestly
imploring her with trembling voice to leave the garden； and go into
the palace。 But Marie Antoinette led him farther into the garden；
instead of complying with his wish。 In the little pavilion which
stood at the corner of the enclosure on the side of the quay； she
sat down； and lifting her boy up in her arms； set him before her on
the marble table； wiped away his tears with her handkerchief； and
tenderly implored him not to weep or feel badly any more。
〃If you weep； my child；〃 she said； sadly； as the dauphin could not
control his tears； 〃if you weep； I shall have no courage left； and
it will be as dark and dreary to me as if the sun had gone down。 If
you weep； I should want to weep with you； and you see； my son； that
it would not be becoming for a queen to weep。 The wicked people； who
want to hurt our feelings； they find pleasure in it； and therefore
we must be altogether too proud to let them see what we suffer。 I
have this pride； but when I see you suffer it takes away all my
strength。 You remember our ride from Versailles here； my son？ How
the bad men who surrounded us； mocked at me and said foul things to
me！ I was cold and calm； but I could not help weeping； my child；
when you complained of being hungry。〃
〃Mamma；〃 cried the child； with flashing eyes； 〃I will never complain
again； and the bad men shall never have the pleasure of seeing me
weep。〃
〃But good men； my child； you must always treat kindly； and behave
very prettily to them。〃
〃I will do so；〃 answered the dauphin； thoughtfully。 〃But； mamma
queen； tell me who the good men are！〃
〃You must believe； Louis； that all men are good； and therefore you
must be kind to all。 If then they despise your goodness or
friendliness； and cast it from them； it will not be your fault； and
our heavenly Father and your parents will be pleased with you。〃
〃But； mamma；〃 cried the prince； and a shadow passed over his pure；
beautiful child's face； 〃but； mamma； I cannot see that all men are
good。 When they were abusing us； and cursing us； and speaking bad
words at us in the carriage； and were talking so angrily at you；
dear mamma； the men were not good； and I never could treat them
friendly if they should come again。〃
〃They will not come again； Louis。 No； we will hope that the bad men
will not come again； and that those who come to see us here are good
men； so be very kind and polite to everybody； that all may love you；
and see that their future king is good and polite； even while a
child。〃
〃Good？〃 cried the boy； spiritedly。 〃I will be good and polite to
everybody； that you may be satisfied with me。 Yes； just for that
will I be so。〃
Marie Antoinette pressed the pretty boy to herself； and kissed his
lips。 Just then an officer entered and announced General Lafayette
and Bailly； the mayor of Paris。
〃Mamma；〃 whispered the prince； as the two gentlemen entered〃
mamma； that is the general that was at Versailles； then。 I can never
be kind to him； for he belongs to the bad men。〃
〃Hush！ my child…hush！〃 whispered the queen。 〃For God's sake； do not
let anybody hear that。 No； no； General Lafayette does not belong to
our enemies； he means well toward us。 Treat him kindly； very kindly；
my child。〃
And Marie Antoinette took her son by the hand； and； with a smile
upon her lips； went to meet the two gentlemen； in order to inquire
the reason for their appearing at this unwonted time and place。
〃Madame；〃 said General Lafayette； 〃I have come to ask your majesty
whether you will not have the goodness to let me know the hours in
which you may wish to visit the park and the garden； that I may make
my arrangements accordingly。〃
〃That means； general；〃 cried the queen； 〃that it is not to depend
upon my free…will when and at what times I am to walk in the park；
but it will be allowed me only at certain hours； just as prisoners
are allowed to take their walks at certain hours。〃
〃I beg your pardon； madame；〃 said the general； with great respect；
〃your majesty will graciously believe； that to me； the peace and
security of your exalted person is sacred above every thing； and
that I regard it as my first duty to protect you against every
insult； and every thing that may be disagreeable。〃
〃And so it has come to that；〃 cried Marie Antoinette； angrily。 〃The
Queen of France must be protected against insults and disagreeable
things。 She is not to go out when she will into her park； because
she has to fear that； if General Lafayette has not previously made
his special preparations； the people will insult her。 But if this is
so； sir； why do you not close the gates of the park？ It is royal
property； and it probably will be allowed to the king to defend his
private property from the brutality of the rabble。 I will myself；
general； see to it that I be protected from insults； and that； at
any time when it pleases me； I may go into the park and the inner
gardens。 I will ask his majesty the king to allow the gates of the
park and。 the promenade on the quay to be closed。 That will close
every thing； and we shall at least gain the freedom thereby of being
able to take walks at any time； without first sending information to
General Lafayette。〃
〃Madame； I expected that you would answer me so；〃 said Lafayette；
sadly； 〃and I have therefore brought M。 de Bailly with me； that he
might join me in supplicating your majesty to graciously abstain
from taking measures of violence； and not to further stir up the
feelings of the people； already so exasperated。〃
〃And so you are of this opinion； sir？〃 asked Marie Antoinette；
turning to M。 Bailly。 〃You； too； regard it as a compulsory measure；
for the king to claim his own right； and to keep out of his property
those who