"Your Majesty!" said she.

"Come, sister, courage."

Marguerite raised her eyes to Heaven.

"Yes," said Charles, "but listen to me."

The Queen of Navarre made a sign of assent.

"You promised me to come to the ball," said Charles.

"I!" exclaimed Marguerite.

"Yes, and after your promise you are expected; so that if you do not
come every one will wonder why."

"Excuse me, brother," said Marguerite, "you see that I am suffering
greatly."

"Exert yourself."

For an instant Marguerite seemed to try to summon her courage, then
suddenly she gave way and fell back among the cushions.

"No, no, I cannot go," said she.

Charles took her hand and seating himself on the divan said:

"You have just lost a friend, I know, Margot; but look at me. Have I not
lost all my friends, even my mother? You can always weep when you wish
to; but I, at the moment of my greatest sorrows, am always forced to
smile. You suffer; but look at me! I am dying. Come, Margot, courage! I
ask it of you, sister, in the name of our honor! We bear like a cross of
agony the reputation of our house; let us bear it, sister, as the
Saviour bore his cross to Calvary; and if on the way we stagger, as he
did, let us like him rise brave and resigned."

"Oh, my God! my God!" cried Marguerite.

"Yes," said Charles, answering her thought; "the sacrifice is severe,
sister, but each one has his own burden, some of honor, others of life.
Do you suppose that with my twenty-five years, and the most beautiful
throne in the world, I do not regret dying? Look at me! My eyes, my
complexion, my lips are those of a dying man, it is true; but my smile,
does not my smile imply that I still hope? and in a week, a month at the
most, you will be weeping for me, sister, as you now weep for him who
died to-day."

"Brother!" exclaimed Marguerite, throwing her arms about Charles's neck.

"So dress yourself, dear Marguerite," said the King, "hide your pallor
and come to the ball. I have given orders for new jewels to be brought
to you, and ornaments worthy of your beauty."

"Oh! what are diamonds and dresses to me now?" said Marguerite.

"Life is long, Marguerite," said Charles, smiling, "at least for you."

The pages withdrew; Gillonne alone remained.

"Prepare everything that is necessary for me, Gillonne," said
Marguerite.

"Sister, remember one thing: sometimes it is by stifling or rather by
dissimulating our suffering that we show most honor to the dead