THE ARMY OF WOMEN.
The Queen was reposing after the day of felicitation. She had her janissaries around her, her cohort of young bravoes, and having reckoned up her foes, she was wishful for the onslaught.
Had she not the defeat of the Fourteenth of July, the Loss of the Bastile, to avenge?
She treated Andrea with the former friendship for a time deadened in her bosom. But Charny? she only looked where he was when she was forced to give him an order. But this was no spite against the family, for it was noticed that she paid special attention to young Valence Charny, the hussar who had been given her Austrian rosette at the officers' dinner.
Indeed, as he was crossing the gallery to announce to the Master of the Buckhound's that the King would go hunting that day, Marie Antoinette who came out of the chapel, perceived him and greeted him.
"The King goes hunting?" she repeated; "what a mistake when the weather is threatening—is it not, Andrea?"
"Yes," answered the lady of honor absently.
"Where will the chase be?"
"In Meudon Wood, my lady."
"Well, accompany him and watch over him."