按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
all the family were of these creatures。 Each Princess kept a different kind。 Mesdames had beautiful spaniels； little grayhounds were preferred by Madame Elisabeth。 Louis XVI。 was the only one of all his family who had no dogs in his room。 I remember one day waiting in the great gallery for the King's retiring； when he entered with all his family and the whole pack； who were escorting him。 All at once all the dogs began to bark； one louder than another； and ran away； passing like ghosts along those great dark rooms； which rang with their hoarse cries。 The Princesses shouting； calling them； running everywhere after them； completed a ridiculous spectacle； which made those august persons very merry。 D'HEZECQUES； p。 49。＇
She was frequently recognised on her way through France； and always with marks of pleasure and respect。
It might have been supposed that the Princess would rejoice to leave behind her the country which had been the scene of so many horrors and such bitter suffering。 But it was her birthplace； and it held the graves of all she loved； and as she crossed the frontier she said to those around her； 〃I leave France with regret； for I shall never cease to consider it my country。〃 She arrived in Vienna on 9th January； 1796； and her first care was to attend a memorial service for her murdered relatives。 After many weeks of close retirement she occasionally began to appear in public； and people looked with interest at the pale； grave； slender girl of seventeen； dressed in the deepest mourning； over whose young head such terrible storms had swept。 The Emperor wished her to marry the Archduke Charles of Austria； but her father and mother had； even in the cradle； destined her hand for her cousin； the Duc d'Angouleme； son of the Comte d'Artois； and the memory of their lightest wish was law to her。
Her quiet determination entailed anger and opposition amounting to persecution。 Every effort was made to alienate her from her French relations。 She was urged to claim Provence； which had become her own if Louis XVIII。 was to be considered King of France。 A pressure of opinion was brought to bear upon her which might well have overawed so young a girl。 〃I was sent for to the Emperor's cabinet；〃 she writes； 〃where I found the imperial family assembled。 The ministers and chief imperial counsellors were also present 。 。 。 。 When the Emperor invited me to express my opinion； I answered that to be able to treat fittingly of such interests I thought； I ought to be surrounded not only by my mother's relatives； but also by those of my father 。 。 。 。 Besides； I said； I was above all things French； and in entire subjection to the laws of France； which had rendered me alternately the subject of the King my father； the King my brother； and the King my uncle； and that I would yield obedience to the latter； whatever might be his commands。 This declaration appeared very much to dissatisfy all who were present； and when they observed that I was not to be shaken； they declared that my right being independent of my will； my resistance would not be the slightest obstacle to the measures they might deem it necessary to adopt for the preservation of my interests。〃
In their anxiety to make a German princess of Marie Therese； her imperial relations suppressed her French title as much as possible。 When； with some difficulty； the Duc de Grammont succeeded in obtaining an audience of her； and used the familiar form of address； she smiled faintly； and bade him beware。 〃Call me Madame de Bretagne； or de Bourgogne； or de Lorraine；〃 she said； 〃for here I am so identified with these provinces ＇which the Emperor wished her to claim from her uncle Louis XVIII。＇ that I shall end in believing in my own transformation。〃 After these discussions she was so closely watched； and so many restraints were imposed upon her； that she was scarcely less a prisoner than in the old days of the Temple； though her cage was this time gilded。 Rescue； however； was at hand。
In 1798 Louis XVIII。 accepted a refuge offered to him at Mittau by the Czar Paul； who had promised that he would grant his guest's first request； whatever it might be。 Louis begged the Czar to use his influence with the Court of Vienna to allow his niece to join him。 〃Monsieur； my brother；〃 was Paul's answer； 〃Madame Royale shall be restored to you； or I shall cease to be Paul I。〃 Next morning the Czar despatched a courier to Vienna with a demand for the Princess； so energetically worded that refusal must have been followed by war。 Accordingly； in May； 1799； Madame Royale was allowed to leave the capital which she had found so uncongenial an asylum。
In the old ducal castle of Mittau； the capital of Courland； Louis XVIII。 and his wife； with their nephews； the Ducs d'Angouleme
＇The Duc d'Angonleme was quiet and reserved。 He loved hunting as means of killing time； was given to early hours and innocent pleasures。 He was a gentleman； and brave as became one。 He had not the 〃gentlemanly vices〃 of his brother； and was all the better for it。 He was ill educated； but had natural good sense； and would have passed for having more than that had he cared to put forth pretensions。 Of all his family he was the one most ill spoken of； and least deserving of it。 …DOCTOR DORAN。＇
and de Berri； were awaiting her； attended by the Abbe Edgeworth； as chief ecclesiastic； and a little Court of refugee nobles and officers。 With them were two men of humbler position； who must have been even more welcome to Madame Royale；De Malden； who had acted as courier to Louis XVI。 during the flight to Varennes； and Turgi； who had waited on the Princesses in the Temple。 It was a sad meeting； though so long anxiously desired； and it was followed on 10th June； 1799； by an equally sad wedding；exiles； pensioners on the bounty of the Russian monarch； fulfilling an engagement founded； not on personal preference； but on family policy and reverence for the wishes of the dead； the bride and bridegroom had small cause for rejoicing。 During the eighteen months of tranquil seclusion which followed her marriage； the favourite occupation of the Duchess was visiting and relieving the poor。 In January； 1801； the Czar Paul； in compliance with the demand of Napoleon； who was just then the object of his capricious enthusiasm； ordered the French royal family to leave Mittau。 Their wanderings commenced on the 21st； a day of bitter memories； and the young Duchess led the King to his carriage through a crowd of men； women； and children； whose tears and blessings attended them on their way。
＇The Queen was too ill to travel。 The Duc d'Angouleme took another route to join a body of French gentlemen in arms for the Legitimist cause。＇
The exiles asked permission from the King of Prussia to settle in his dominions； and while awaiting his answer at Munich they were painfully surprised by the entrance of five old soldiers of noble birth； part of the body…guard they had left behind at Mittau； relying on the protection of Paul。 The 〃mad Czar〃 had decreed their immediate expulsion； and； penniless and almost starving； they made their way to Louis XVIII。 All the money the royal family possessed was bestowed on these faithful servants； who came to them in detachments for relief； and then the Duchess offered her diamonds to the Danish consul for an advance of two thousand ducats； saying she pledged her property 〃that in our common distress it may be rendered of real use to my uncle； his faithful servants； and myself。〃 The Duchess's consistent and unselfish kindness procured her from the King； and those about him who knew her best； the name of 〃our angel。〃
Warsaw was for a brief time the resting…place of the wanderers； but there they were disturbed in 1803 by Napoleon's attempt to threaten and bribe Louis XVIII。 into abdication。 It was suggested that refusal might bring upon them expulsion from Prussia。 〃We are accustomed to suffering；〃 was the King's answer； and we do not dread poverty。 I would； trusting in God； seek another asylum。〃 In 1808； after many changes of scene； this asylum was sought in England； Gosfield Hall； Essex； being placed at their disposal by the Marquis of Buckingham。 From Gosfield； the King moved to Hartwell Hall； a fine old Elizabethan mansion rented from Sir George Lee for L 500 a year。 A yearly grant of L 24；000 was made to the exiled family by the British Government； out of which a hundred and forty persons were supported； the royal dinner…party generally numbering two dozen。
At Hartwell； as in her other homes； the Duchess was most popular amongst the poor。 In general society she was cold and reserved； and she disliked the notice of strangers。 In March； 1814； the royalist successes at Bordeaux paved the way for the restoration of royalty in France； and amidst general sympathy and congratulation； with the Prince Regent himself to wish them good fortune； the King； the Duchess； and their suite left Hartwell in April； 1814。 The return to France was as triumphant as a somewhat half…hearted and doubtful enthusiasm could make it； and most of such cordiality as there was fell to the share of the Du