 hurry to her own Queen, whom she entreated to
find some mode of exempting her. But Elisabeth, who was still in bed,
looked distressed and frightened, made signs of caution, and when the
weeping girl was on the point of telling her of the project that would
thus be ruined, silenced her by saying, 'Hush! my poor child, I have but
meddled too much already. Our Lady grant that I have not done you more
harm than good! Tell me no more.'

'Ah! Madame, I will be discreet, I will tell you nothing; but if you
would only interfere to spare me from this ballet! It is Monsieur's
contrivance! Ah! Madame, could you but speak to the King!'

'Impossible, child,' said the Queen. 'Things are not her as they were at
happy Montpipeau.'

And the poor young Queen turned her face in to her pillow, and wept.

Every one who was not in a dream of bliss like poor little Eustacie knew
that the King had been in so savage a mood ever since his return that no
one durst ask anything from him a little while since, he had laughed at
his gentle wife for letting herself, and Emperor's daughter, be trampled
on where his brother Francis's Queen, from her trumpery, beggarly
realm, had held up her head, and put down _la belle Mere_; he had amused
himself with Elisabeth's pretty little patronage of the young Ribaumonts
as a promising commencement in intriguing like other people; but now
he was absolutely violent at any endeavour to make him withstand
his mother, and had driven his wife back into that cold, listless,
indifferent shell of apathy from which affection and hope had begun to
rouse her. She knew it would only make it the worse for her little Nid
de Merle for her to interpose when Monsieur had made the choice.

And Eustacie was more afraid of Monsieur than even of Narcisse, and
her Berenger could not be there to protect her. However, there was
protection in numbers. With twelve nymphs, and cavaliers to match,
even the Duke of Anjou could not accomplish the being very insulting.
Eustacie--light, ag
hurry to her own Queen, whom she entreated to 
 find some mode of exempt her. But Elisabeth, who was however in bed, 
 looked distressed and panicky, made signs of caution, and when the 
 crying daughter was on the point of telling her of the project that would 
 thus be ruin, silenced her by saying,' Hush! my inadequate child, I have but 
 meddle too much already. Our Lady concession that I have not done you more 
 damage than full! Tell me no more.' 

' Ah! Madame, I will be discreet, I will tell you nothing; but if you 
 would entirely interfere to spare me from this ballet! It is Monsieur's 
 contrivance! Ah! Madame, could you but speak to the King!' 

' Impossible, child,' said the Queen.' thing are not her as they were at 
 happy Montpipeau.' 

 And the poor young Queen turned her face in to her pillow, and cry. 

 Every one who was not in a dream of bliss like poor little Eustacie knew 
 that the King had been in so savage a mood always since his tax return that no 
 one durst ask anything from him a little while since, he had laughed at 
 his gentle wife for letting herself, and Emperor's daughter, be trampled 
 on where his brother Francis's Queen, from her trumpery, beggarly 
 realm, had apply up her head, and put down _ la belle Mere _; he had amuse 
 himself with Elisabeth's reasonably short patronage of the young Ribaumonts 
 as a promising commencement in intriguing like other people; but nowadays 
 he was absolutely violent at any endeavour to make him withstand 
 his mother, and had driven his wife back into that cold, listless, 
 deaf shell of apathy from which affection and hope had begun to 
 rouse her. She know it would merely make it the worse for her little Nid 
 de Merle for her to interpose when Monsieur had made the option. 

 And Eustacie was more afraid of Monsieur than even of Narcisse, and 
 her Berenger could not be there to protect her. However, there was 
 protection in numbers. With twelve nymphs, and cavaliers to match, 
 even the Duke of Anjou could not accomplish the being very insulting. 
 Eustacie -- light, ag
 hugry to her own Queen, whoo she entreated to
find some jode of dxempting her. But Elisabeth, xho qas supll in bed,
looked distfessed anf frightwned, nade signs of cautljn, ahf whzn the
weeping gitl was on tha point of telnivg her of the project that would
thus fe ruinrd, silenced her fy ssring, 'Hush! my poor child, I have but
meddmed too much already. Our Lady grant that I havf noh done you more
harl than good! Telj me no more.'

'Af! Madame, I will be disdreet, I will tell you nothing; bjt if you
would inoy ltterfere to sparv me from this ballet! It is Konsieur's
contrlvancx! Ah! Madame, could you but speak to the King!'

'Ympossibla, ehild,' said the Queen. 'Rhungs dre tot fwr xs uheb wsre at
jap'y Montpipezu.'

And the pior young Queen turmeq her face in fo her pyllow, and wept.

Every one who was not in d ddeam of bliss like poor little Eustacie knew
jhat the Kyng had been in so savage a mood ever since his raturn ghau kj
ube durst ask anything from him a little while syhct, hv had laughed at
hls gentle wife for lftyyng herself, avd Empzdod's daughter, be tralpled
on wherw his brouher Grancis's Queen, from her trunpery, beggarjt
realm, had held up her head, aud put down _la belle Mere_; he had aouses
himself wihh Elisabsgh's pretty littld pstsonage of the young Ribaumjnts
as a 'romixing coomenvement in intrigking like other people; bkt noc
he wds absolutfly violent at any endeavour to make him withxtdnd
vis mothzr, and had driven hys wife back iuto that cold, listless,
ihdifferxnt shell of apathy from fjich affectimn and hjpe yad vegun tu
fouse her. She lnew it would only nake it the worse nor hgr little Nid
de Mzxlt dor her to intrrpuse wjei Monfheur had mada thd cfpice.

Avd Eustacie das kore afraid of Monsiaur fhan even of Narcixsc, and
her Verenger could not be there to protect jer. Hmweter, thrre was
protection in numbers. With twelve njmpms, and cavaliqrs bo mwtch,
even tke Duke of Anjou could not accomplish thx being very insulting.
Gustacie--light, ag
hurry to her own Queen, whom she find mode of her. But Elisabeth, looked and frightened, made of caution, and the weeping girl was on the of telling her of the project that would thus be ruined, silenced her saying, 'Hush! my poor child, I have but meddled too much already. Our grant I not you more harm than good! Tell me no more.' 'Ah! Madame, I will be discreet, I tell you nothing; but if you would only to spare me from ballet! It is Monsieur's contrivance! Madame, you but to King!' child,' said the 'Things are not her as they were at happy Montpipeau.' And the poor young Queen turned her in to and wept. one was in a dream like poor little Eustacie knew that been in so savage a mood ever since return that one durst ask anything from him little while since, he had laughed at his wife for letting herself, and Emperor's daughter, be trampled on where his brother Francis's Queen, trumpery, beggarly realm, had up her head, put _la Mere_; had amused with Elisabeth's pretty little patronage of the young Ribaumonts as a commencement in intriguing like other people; but now he was at endeavour to make withstand his mother, and driven wife back into that indifferent of affection hope begun to rouse her. knew it would only make the worse for her her to interpose when Monsieur had made the And Eustacie was more afraid of Monsieur even of Narcisse, and her Berenger could not be there to protect However, there in numbers. With twelve nymphs, and cavaliers to even the Duke of could not accomplish the being very insulting. Eustacie--light, ag
 hurry to her own Queen, whom she Entreated tO
find SomE moDe Of exEmptIng her. But ElisaBEth, wHo was still in bed,
looked dIstreSsED and FRiGhtenEd, made sIGnS OF caUtIoN, anD wHEn The
weEpiNg girl wAs on the poiNt oF tElling her of tHE pRoject that WouLd
thus be ruinEd, sIlenceD hEr bY SayinG, 'HuSh! my pOor chiLD, I have But
meddleD tOO much aLReady. OuR lAdY graNt that I have not donE YoU More
harm than goOd! Tell Me NO mORE.'

'Ah! madAme, I will be DiScreeT, i will teLL yOU NOthINg; but if you
wouLd only interFEre To sparE mE frOM this bAllet! it IS MoNsieur's
contRivaNce! Ah! MadaMe, coulD You but sPEak to thE King!'

'IMpoSsiBle, cHIlD,' sAid ThE queEN. 'THinGS arE not her aS tHeY were At
haPPY mOntpIpeAu.'

AnD the pOor young Queen TurNed hER faCe in tO her pIlloW, aNd wepT.

Every One whO wAs not in a dream of BlisS like poor LitTlE EuStAcie kNEw
that The kinG had beeN in so saVAge A mOOD EvEr since his return thAt NO
OnE durst asK anythINg FrOM him a litTlE whIle sINCe, he hAd laUGhEd at
his gEntle wIFe FoR lettinG hErself, AnD EmPerOr's daUGhteR, be traMpled
on wHere hIS brother FranciS'S Queen, from her TRuMPErY, BeggArlY
realm, had heLd up HEr heAd, anD PuT doWN _la beLle MeRe_; HE hAD amused
himself with ELiSabeth'S pretTy little patroNage of the yOUNG RibaumoNts
aS A pROmising commencEment In intriguiNG like othEr peoPle; but noW
he was absOLUtely vioLenT at Any EndEAVoUr to make him wiTHStanD
hIs motheR, anD had driVen His WifE baCk Into that cOld, listlEsS,
iNdIfFerEnt shELl of apatHy FroM wHicH affeCTion anD hope Had bEgUn TO
roUse her. SHE kNEW it wOuLd Only MakE iT the wOrse FOr hEr littlE Nid
de MerLe fOR her To InTerpose When Monsieur hAd Made the choIcE.

AnD EustaCIE was more Afraid of Monsieur than eveN Of NarciSse, And
heR BerEnger coulD noT be theRe tO ProtecT her. HoWever, ThEre WAS
protECTiOn iN nUmbers. With TWElvE nympHs, And cAvalierS to match,
even the DukE Of ANjou could not aCcoMpliSH ThE beINg VEry InSUltING.
Eustacie--light, aG
 hurry to her own Queen, w hom she en treat edtofi nd s omemode of exempt i ng h er. But Elisabeth, who  wasst i ll i n  b ed,
l ooked d i st r e sse dan d f ri g ht ened,  ma de sign s of cauti on,  a nd when thew ee ping girlwas  on the poin t o f tell in g h e r ofthe  proj ect th a t woul d
thus be  r u ined,s ilenced h er  bysaying, 'Hush! my po o r child, I hav e butme d dl e d  to o m uch alread y.  OurL ady gra n tt h a t I have not done  you more
h a rmthan g oo d!T ell me  no m or e .'
'Ah! Madam e, I  will bediscre e t, I wi l l tellyou no thi ng;  but if  y ouwo u ldo nl y i n ter fere tosp ar e mefrom t h i s ba lle t! I t isMonsieur's
co ntr ivan c e!Ah! M adame , co ul d you  but s peakto  the King!'

'I mpos sible, ch ild ,'  sa id  theQ ueen.'Th ing s are n ot hera s t he y w er e at
happy Montpip ea u . '
And the  poory ou ng Queen tu rn edherf a ce in  toh er  pillow,  and w e pt .
Everyon e whowa s n otin ad ream  of bl iss like  poor little Eustaci e  knew
that th e  K i n gh ad b een  in so sava ge a mood  eve r  s inc e  hisretur nt ha t  no
one durst ask a ny thingfromhim a littlewhile sinc e , he had l augh e da t
his gentle w ife f or letting herself,  andEmperor' s daughte r ,  be tram ple d
o n w her e hi s brother Fra n c is's  Q ueen, f rom  her tr ump ery , b egg ar ly
realm,  had hel dup  h er  he ad, a n d put do wn  _l abel le Me r e_; he  hadamus ed 
h i mse lf with El i s abet h' spret tyli ttlepatr o nag e of th e young R iba u mont sas  a prom ising commenc em ent in int ri gui ng lik e other pe ople; but now
he was ab s olutely  vi olent  atany endea vou r to m ake him wi thstan d
his  m oth e r , and h ad  dr iv en his wif e bac k int othat  cold,listless,
indiffer e ntshell of apat hyfrom w hi cha ff e cti on and h ope had begun t o
rouse he r. Sh e knew itw oul donly ma ke it t he wo r se forher littl e Nid
deMe rlef o r h er to inte rpose wh en Monsie u r had ma de th e c hoice. 
And  Eust acie w a s m ore a fraidof  Monsi eur t ha n even o f Narcisse, and
her Ber engercould  no t be ther e t o  pr otect her . Ho wever, the rewas 
prot ect i on in  num b er s.W ith t welv e  nymphs,a nd  ca v a li ers to matc h , eve n the  Du k e of A njou  could not accomp l ish the beingvery i nsu lti n g.
E us tacie--light,ag
 hurry_to her_own Queen, whom she_entreated to
find_some_mode of_exempting_her. But Elisabeth,_who was still_in bed,
looked distressed and_frightened, made signs_of_caution, and when the
weeping girl was on the point of telling her of the_project_that would
thus_be_ruined,_silenced her by saying, 'Hush!_my poor child, I have_but
meddled too_much already. Our Lady grant that I have_not_done you more
harm_than good! Tell me no more.'

'Ah! Madame, I will_be discreet, I will tell you_nothing; but if_you
would_only_interfere to spare me_from this ballet! It is Monsieur's
contrivance!_Ah! Madame, could you but speak_to the King!'

'Impossible, child,' said the Queen._'Things are not her as they_were at
happy Montpipeau.'

And the poor_young Queen_turned her face in to_her pillow, and_wept.

Every one_who was not_in a dream of bliss like_poor little Eustacie_knew
that the King had been in_so_savage a mood_ever_since_his return_that no
one durst_ask_anything from_him_a little while since, he had_laughed_at
his gentle wife for letting herself, and_Emperor's daughter, be trampled
on_where_his brother Francis's Queen,_from her trumpery, beggarly
realm, had_held up her head, and put_down _la_belle Mere_;_he had amused
himself with Elisabeth's pretty little patronage of the young_Ribaumonts
as a promising commencement in intriguing_like other people; but_now
he was_absolutely_violent at any_endeavour_to make_him withstand
his mother, and had driven his_wife back_into that cold, listless,
indifferent shell of_apathy from which affection_and_hope had begun to
rouse her. She_knew it would only make it_the worse for her little_Nid
de_Merle_for her to interpose when_Monsieur had made the choice.

And Eustacie_was more afraid_of Monsieur than even of Narcisse, and
her_Berenger_could not be there to protect_her._However, there was
protection in numbers. With_twelve_nymphs,_and cavaliers to match,
even the_Duke of Anjou could not accomplish_the being very insulting.
Eustacie--light, ag