DidMarieAntoinetteweepandmoanatnight，didshetalkwithhersister，didshewalkdisconsolatelyupanddownherroom？——therepublicgrantedhertheprivilege。Shecould，duringthenightatleast，haveafewhoursoffreedomandofsolitude。
ButduringthenightMarieAntoinettedidnotweepormoan；thisnightherthoughtswerenotdirectedtothesadpast，buttothefuture；forthefirstrayofhopewhichhadfallenuponherpathforalongtimenowencounteredher。
“Toescape，tobefree!“shesaid，andtheshadowofasmileflittedoverherface。“Canyoubelieveit？Doyouconsideritpossible，sister？“
“Ishouldliketobelieveit，“whisperedElizabeth，“butthereissomethinginmyheartthatremindsmeofVarennes，andIonlypraytoGodthatHewouldgiveusstrengthtobearalltheillstheyinflictuponus。Wemust，aboveallthings，keepourcalmnessandsteadfastness，andbepreparedfortheworstaswellasthebest。“
“Yes，youareright，wemustdothat，“saidMarieAntoinette，collectingherself。“Whenonehassufferedaswehave，itisalmostmoredifficulttohopeforgoodfortunethantopreparefornewterrors。Iwillcompelmyselftobecalm。IwillreadToulan’splan，oncemore，andwillimpressitwordforworduponmymemory，soastoburnthedangeroussheetassoonaspossible。“