“She came to me one day, weeping, to beg I would make use of my good offices in her favour with the Queen, whom she was grieved that she had so grossly offended by an unguarded speech.

“‘On my knees,’ continued the Duchess, I am I ready to supplicate the pardon of Her Majesty.  I cannot live without her forgiveness.  One of my servants has opened my eyes, by telling me that the Revolution can make a Duchess a beggar, but cannot make a beggar a Duchess.’

“‘Unfortunately,’ said I, ’if some of these faithful servants had been listened to, they would still be such, and not now our masters; but I can assure you, Duchess, that the Queen has long since forgiven you.  See!  Her Majesty comes to tell you so herself.’

“The Duchess fell upon her knees.  The Queen, with her usual goodness of heart, clasped her in her arms, and, with tears in her eyes, said: 

“’We have all of us need of forgiveness.  Our errors and misfortunes are general.  Think no more of the past; but let us unite in not sinning for the future: 

“‘Heaven knows how many sins I have to atone for,’ replied the Duchess, ’from the follies of youth; but now, at an age of discretion and in adversity, oh, how bitterly do I reproach myself for my past levities!  But,’ continued she, ‘has Your Majesty really forgiven me?’

“‘As I hope to be forgiven!’ exclaimed Marie Antoinette.  ’No penitent in the sight of God is more acceptable than the one who makes a voluntary sacrifice by confessing error.  Forget and forgive is the language of our Blessed Redeemer.  I have adopted it in regard to my enemies, and surely my friends have a right to claim it.  Come, Duchess, I will conduct you to the King and Elizabeth, who will rejoice in the recovery of one of our lost sheep; for we sorely feel the diminution of the flock that once surrounded us!’

“At this token of kindness, the Duchess was so much overcome that she fell at the Queen’s feet motionless, and it was some time before she recovered.

“From the moment of Her Majesty’s arrival at Paris from Versailles, she solely occupied herself with the education of her children,-excepting when she resorted to my parties, the only ones, as she had at first determined, which she ever honoured with her attendance.  In order to discover, as far as possible, the sentiments of certain persons, I gave almost general invitations, whereby, from her amiable manners and gracious condescension, she became very popular.  By these means I hoped to replace Her Majesty in the good estimation of her numerous visitors; but, notwithstanding every exertion, she could not succeed in dispelling the gloom with which the Revolution had overcast all her former gaiety.  Though treated with ceremonious respect, she missed the cordiality to which she had been so long accustomed, and which she so much prized.  From the great emigration of the higher classes of the nobility, the societies themselves were no longer what they had been.  Madame Necker and Madame de Stael were pretty regular visitors.  But the most agreeable company had lost its zest for Marie Antoinette; and she was really become afraid of large assemblies, and scarcely ever saw a group of persons collected together without fearing some plot against the King.