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.
Pages:
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364