careless along; his cloak well adjusted to the wind,
if so be he may please all persons. The simple young King, whom a
Maurepas cannot think of troubling with business, has retired into the
interior apartments; taciturn, irresolute; though with a sharpness of
temper at times: he, at length, determines on a little smithwork; and
so, in apprenticeship with a Sieur Gamain (whom one day he shall have
little cause to bless), is learning to make locks. (Campan, i. 125.)
It appears further, he understood Geography; and could read English.
Unhappy young King, his childlike trust in that foolish old Maurepas
deserved another return. But friend and foe, destiny and himself have
combined to do him hurt.

Meanwhile the fair young Queen, in her halls of state, walks like a
goddess of Beauty, the cynosure of all eyes; as yet mingles not with
affairs; heeds not the future; least of all, dreads it. Weber and Campan
(Ib. i. 100-151. Weber, i. 11-50.) have pictured her, there within the
royal tapestries, in bright boudoirs, baths, peignoirs, and the Grand
and Little Toilette; with a whole brilliant world waiting obsequious on
her glance: fair young daughter of Time, what things has Time in store
for thee! Like Earth's brightest Appearance, she moves gracefully,
environed with the grandeur of Earth: a reality, and yet a magic vision;
for, behold, shall not utter Darkness swallow it! The soft young heart
adopts orphans, portions meritorious maids, delights to succour the
poor,--such poor as come picturesquely in her way; and sets the fashion
of doing it; for as was said, Benevolence has now begun reigning. In
her Duchess de Polignac, in Princess de Lamballe, she enjoys something
almost like friendship; now too, after seven long years, she has a
child, and soon even a Dauphin, of her own; can reckon herself, as
Queens go, happy in a husband.

Events? The Grand events are but charitable Feasts of Morals (Fetes des
moeurs), with their Prizes and Speeches; Poissarde Processions to the
Dauphin's cradle; above all, Flirtations, their rise, progress, decline
and fall. There are Snow-statues raised by the poor in hard winter to
a Queen who has given them fuel. There are masquerades, theatricals;
beautifyings of little Trianon, purchase and repair of St. Cloud;
journeyings from the summer Court-Elysium to the winter one. There
are poutings and grudgings from the Sardinian Sisters-in-law (for the
Princes too are wedded); little jealousies, which C