n these people another time. It must have been a dreary morning for
the children,--their father in danger, their governess gone, and their
mother weeping, deserted by her court. She employed herself in writing
a short address, to be spoken to the National Assembly at Paris (which
may be called the people's new parliament), in case of the king not
being allowed to return. She meant to go with her children, and beg of
the Assembly that they might share the lot of the king, whatever it
might be. As she learnt by heart what she had written (lest she should
not have presence of mind to make an address at the time), her voice was
choked with grief, and she sobbed out, "They will never let him return."

He did return, however, late in the evening. He had had a weary day.
He had been received with gloom, and with either silence or insulting
cries. It was not till, at the desire of the mayor of Paris, he had put
the new national cockade in his hat, that the people cheered him; after
which they were in good humour. This cockade was made of the three
colours which are now seen in the tricolour flag of France,--red and
blue, the ancient colours of the city of Paris, with the white of the
royal lilies between. In these troubled times a white cockade was a
welcome sight to royal eyes, as an emblem of loyalty; while red and blue
colours were detestable, as tokens of a revolutionary temper. When the
king himself was compelled to wear them, it was a cruel mortification.
It was, in fact, a sign of submission to his rebellious people. Glad
indeed was he to get home this night, and endeavour to forget that he
had worn the tricolor. He kept repeating to the queen what he had said
in the hearing of many this day, "Happily, there was no blood shed; and
I swear that not a drop shall be shed by my order, happen what may."
These were the words of a humane man: but it was hardly prudent to speak
them during the outbreak of a revolution, when they might discourage his
friends, and embolden the violent.

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Note: The Fleur-de-Lys (lily) was blazoned in the royal arms of France
for many centuries.

VOLUME TWO, CHAPTER FOUR.

LAST NIGHT AT VERSAILLES.

From this day forward the king met with insults whichever way he
turned,--even at the doors of his own apartments. It was resolved by
the National Assembly that all the men in France should be armed and
wear a