"I make no conditions; I only say, let us see who gets there first.
If you win, Julia, I will give you the privilege of nominating a man
to have the first place in my Swiss guards, and you may select the
protege in whose behalf you were pleading yesterday. Come, let us
run. One!--"

"No, Marie," interrupted the duchess. "Supposing that you are the
first, what shall I give you?"

"A kiss--a hearty kiss--Julia. Now, forward! One, two, three!"

And, speaking these words in merry accents, Marie Antoinette sprang
forward along the narrow walk. The round straw hat which covered her
head was tossed up on both sides; the blue ribbons fluttered in the
wind; the white dress puffed up; and the grand chamberlain of the
queen and Madame Adelaide would have been horrified if they could
have seen the queen flying along like a girl escaped from the
boarding-school.

But she, she never thought of there being any thing improper in the
run; she looked forward to the goal with laughing glances, as the
white house emerged more and more from the verdure by which it was
surrounded, and then sideways at her friend, who had not been able
to gain a single step upon her.

"Forward, forward!" shouted the queen; "I will and I must win, for
the prize is a kiss from my Julia." And with renewed speed the queen
dashed along. The lane opened and terminated in a square in front of
the palace. The queen stopped in her course, and turned round to see
her friend, who had been left far behind her.