As soon as the duchess saw it she tried to quicken her steps, and
began to run again, but Marie Antoinette motioned with her hand, and
went rapidly back to meet her.

"You shall not make any more effort, Julia," said she. "I have won,
and you cannot bring my victory into question."

"And I do not wish to," answered the duchess, with a merry look of
defiance on her gentle features. "I really did not wish to win, for
it would have seemed as if I had to win what I want on the turn of a
merry game. You have done wrong, Marie Antoinette. You want me to
forget here in Trianon that you are the Queen of France. But you
yourself do not forget it. Only the queen can propose such a prize
as you have set, and only the queen can ask so insignificant a boon
on the other side. You have made it impossible for me to win, for
you know well that I am not selfish."

"I know it, and that is just the reason why I love you so dearly,
Julia. I have done wrong," she went on to say with her gentle, sweet
voice. "I see it, and I beg your forgiveness. Give me now as a proof
that you do forgive me, give me the prize which I have won--a kiss,
Julia, a kiss."

"Not here," answered the duchess. "O, no, not here, Marie. Do not
you see that the doors of the saloons are open, and that your
company are all assembled. They would all envy me; they would all be
jealous if they were to see the preference which you show for me."

"Let them be jealous, let them envy you," cried the queen; "the