Project Gutenberg's A Versailles Christmas-Tide, by Mary Stuart Boyd

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Title: A Versailles Christmas-Tide

Author: Mary Stuart Boyd

Release Date: January 23, 2004 [EBook #10813]
[Date last updated: December 22, 2004]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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A VERSAILLES CHRISTMAS-TIDE

By

Mary Stuart Boyd

With Fifty-three Illustrations by A.S. Boyd

1901

Contents

I. The Unexpected Happens
II. Ogams
III. The Town
IV. Our Arbre de Noel
V. Le Jour de l'Annee
VI. Ice-bound
VII. The Haunted Chateau
VIII. Marie Antoinette
IX. The Prisoners Released

Illustrations

The Summons
Storm Warning
Treasure Trove
The Red Cross in the Window
Enter M. le Docteur
Perpetual Motion
Ursa Major
Meal Considerations
The Two Colonels
The Young and Brave
Malcontent
The Aristocrat
Papa, Mama, et Bebe
Juvenile Progress
Automoblesse oblige
Sable Garb
A Football Team
Mistress and Maid
Sage and Onions
Marketing
Private Boxes
A Foraging Party
A Thriving Merchant
Chestnuts in the Avenue
The Tree Vendor
The Tree Bearer
Rosine
Alms and the Lady
Adoration
Thankfulness
One of the Devout
De l'eau Chaude
The Mill
The Presbytery
To the Place of Rest
While the Frost Holds
The Postman's Wrap
A Lapful of Warmth
The Daily Round
Three Babes and a Bonne
Snow in the Park
A Veteran of the Chateau
Un, Deux, Trois
Bedchamber of Louis XIV
Marie Leczinska
Madame Adelaide
Louis Quatorze
Where the Queen Played
Marie Antoinette
The Secret Stair
Madame sans Tete
Illumination
L'Envoi

CHAPTER I

THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS

[Illustration: The Summons]

No project could have been less foreseen than was ours of wintering in
France, though it must be confessed that for several months our thoughts
had constantly strayed across the Channel. For the Boy was at school at
Versailles, banished there by our desire to fulfil a parental duty.

The time of separation had dragged tardily past, until one foggy
De