is called the Duke of
Normandy?"

"My son," said the King, solemnly, "each day differs from the last, and
this new day has brought you a new name and a new position. Your poor
dear brother has left us for ever. He has gone to God, and you are now
in his place, the Dauphin of France."

"And is that why mamma is crying, and will Louis never come back?"

"No, dear, he will never come back, and so your mamma is grieving."

Quickly little Louis' arms went around her neck.

"Oh," he cried, "poor, dear mamma! I don't see how anyone can leave
you, and not come back? _I_ will never leave you, never, never!"

"God grant it!" sighed the queen, pressing him tenderly to her. "May He
grant it--oh, my precious child!" and then with his face close to hers,
and a little hand held tight in the big one of his father, whose arm
was around them both, Louis continued:

"If it is mine now, please tell me what it means--that name, the
Dauphin."

The king answered:

"My son, this is what it means. You are now the eldest son of the King
of France, and some day you will be the king, and to you belong now the
titles and honours that were your brother's. Do you understand?"

Instead of showing appreciation, Louis' blue eyes looked entreatingly
at the Queen, and his lips quivered.

"Mamma," he whispered, "I like being Duke of Normandy best. Will you
love me any better if I am called the Dauphin?"

"No, dear child," answered the Queen tenderly, "I shall not love you
better, but you are no longer the Duke of Normandy. You are the Dauphin
now, the future King of France!" A sob choked the words as Marie
Antoinette turned hastily away to hide her grief, and in doing so, she
put her foot on the flowers which little Louis had brought her. His
face clouded as he saw this, then with a bright smile he looked into
the Queen's face, saying quickly:

"Mamma, I wish you always walked on flowers I picked for you."

Without a word Marie Antoinette turned, and clasping him in her arms,
was comforted. Then, reminded of state duties to be done, she was about
to release him when he whispered:

"Did my poor dear brother only leave me his title? Oh, mamma, I do not
want it. But there is something of his that I _do_ want to have very,
very much now that I am the Dauphin."

The King looked bewildered, but the Queen smiled through her tears.

"I think I can guess what it is," she said, "see if I can, little
Louis," and putting him down, she softly left