The hint was sufficient. Marie Thérèse de Lamballe ran towards the girls, and bade them approach the queen.
Poor little Gabrielle was bewildered by what she saw. On entering the park, her eyes had wandered down the alleys to the fountains and statues terminating them; but when she stood on the terrace and looked down the twelve avenues, each leading to a temple of one of the zodiacal signs, which Mansard had designed in compliment to Louis XIV, who was the central sun in his shrine of Marly, she held up her hands and laughed with delight.
'Hush!' said Madeleine; 'there is the queen.'
'But where is her crown?'
'Oh! she forgot it and left it under her pillow, when she woke this morning.'
Gabrielle folded her hands and stood still, with her large eyes staring.
'See!' exclaimed Madeleine; 'she is sending for us.'
'Her majesty desires you to wait on her,' said the Princess de Lamballe; 'bring your flowers, Madeleine, and let the little Norman girl accompany you. What is her name?'
'Mademoiselle,' said the girl Chabry; 'my cousin is called Françoise Rolin.'