Part 8 (1/2)
In stately dignity, Marie Antoinette then left the room to receive other subjects, who still considered her the queen of France, and after her going, King Louis and his little son were left alone
The king, exhausted in body and mind, closed his eyes and lay back in his chair, ready to sink into a light doze, when he was roused by a gentle touch on his arreat blue eyes full of grave thoughtfulness When he saw the King's eyes open, he spoke
”Papa,” he said, hesitatingly, ”I should like to ask you so really serious!” replied the King, s in spite of himself ”Well, what is it? Let me hear”
”Papa,” answered the Dauphin, with an air of one who has thought deeply on a subject ”My governess has always told me I must love the people of France and treat them kindly, because they love you and mama so much But if they do, papa, then why do the people act so badly to you?
And oh, papa, I have been told that your people owe you obedience and respect, but they were not obedient nor respectful yesterday and they said dreadful things I never heard before What does itdrew the child on to his knee and put an ar him that he would explain it to him, but that he would have to listen carefully if he wished to understand such grave erly ”I know that I am one of your subjects, and that as your son and a subject too, Iand obeying the king But it seeood at all yet
How does that happen, papa?”
In answer, the King told him that wicked men had said to the people that he did not love them, that they had listened and believed this, that France had had great wars, and wars cost a great deal And so, because he was the King, he had asked money of his subjects, just as had always been done by other Kings
”Oh, but papa,” cried the Dauphin, ”why did you do that? Why did you not take my purse and pay out of that? You know that I receive every day ht new francs and I could have helped you easily And, oh papa, do your people haveLouis answered that a king receives all his ain, that he governs those people, and they owe him respect and obedience and have to pay taxes to hi extra taxes upon them Then he asked, ”do you understand that, little Louis?”
”Oh, yes, indeed!” The Dauphin was breathless with interest now, ”I have been told about that, but I don't like it It seeht to have all the ht to ask hireed, but added with a sigh, that kings had so er trusted the could not pay out money unless the people knehat it was to be used for, and illing
”Have you used people's erly ”Was that why they came to Versailles yesterday and were so wicked to us? For those badLouis shook his head ”No, reat masses They have to send representatives
Those representatives I called to me at Versailles and asked of thes in return, of rant, either for my own sake or for yours, my son, who are some day to be my successor Then the people were led to believe that I did not love them, but I am determined to show the with them That is e have left lovely Versailles and come to live here, where we have to do without so much that we enjoy And we reeable things that the people have to bear, which is what a true King should do”
The Dauphin had sat like an old , the boy laid a hand on his breast, saying sole, and I am very much ashamed that I coive everybody a good example I will be happy and contented here”
And the Dauphin kept his word; he took pains to be contented, and never said another word about Versailles, but tried to get all the pleasure he could froarden, so different froround in which to work Here in the garden, there was only one small corner set aside for the use of the royal fah which faces full of hate and malice would often peer at the little Dauphin while he was busy gardening One day he heard such words and saw such threatening faces that he shrank back and ran to his mother, who comforted hi, or she would cry too, and that she must not do this because it was exactly what the s, wanted to see her do
The boy's eyes flashed
”I will never coain have the pleasure of seeing you or ood men in the world?”
”Yes, Louis,” answered the queen ”You ood and treat them courteously, until you have proved the contrary If they refuse your friendly kindness, it will not be your fault, and you will have done what is right, no matter what others do”
A shadow passed over the child's lovely face
”But, ood The ood, and I could never be friendly to theain,” said the queen, ”and I wish you to be so kind and polite to everyone who comes here, that all h he is still a child”
”I will be,” cried the boy with spirit, ”so that you may be satisfied with me, mamma Just for that I will be so!”