the memoirs of marie antoinette-第29部分

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s　not　generally　made　until　the　Queen　was　gone　to　mass。　　Generally；　excepting　at　St。　　Cloud；　where　the　Queen　bathed　in　an　apartment　below　her　own；　a　slipper　bath　was　rolled　into　her　room；　and　her　bathers　brought　everything　that　was　necessary　for　the　bath。　　The　Queen　bathed　in　a　large　gown　of　English　flannel　buttoned　down　to　the　bottom；。　　its　sleeves　throughout；　as　well　as　the　collar；　were　lined　with　linen。　　When　she　came　out　of　the　bath　the　first　woman　held　up　a　cloth　to　conceal　her　entirely　from　the　sight　of　her　women；　and　then　threw　it　over　her　shoulders。　　The　bathers　wrapped　her　in　it　and　dried　her　completely。　　She　then　put　on　a　long　and　wide　open　chemise；　entirely　trimmed　with　lace；　and　afterwards　a　white　taffety　bed…　gown。　　The　wardrobe　woman　warmed　the　bed；　the　slippers　were　of　dimity；　trimmed　with　lace。　　Thus　dressed；　the　Queen　went　to　bed　again；　and　the　bathers　and　servants　of　the　chamber　took　away　the　bathing　apparatus。　　The　Queen；　replaced　in　bed；　took　a　book　or　her　tapestry　work。　　On　her　bathing　mornings　she　breakfasted　in　the　bath。　　The　tray　was　placed　on　the　cover　of　the　bath。　　These　minute　details　are　given　here　only　to　do　justice　to　the　Queen's　scrupulous　modesty。　　Her　temperance　was　equally　remarkable；　she　breakfasted　on　coffee　or　chocolate；　at　dinner　ate　nothing　but　white　meat；　drank　water　only；　and　supped　on　broth；　a　wing　of　a　fowl；　and　small　biscuits；　which　she　soaked　in　a　glass　of　water。

The　tirewoman　had　under　her　order　a　principal　under…tirewoman；　charged　with　the　care　and　preservation　of　all　the　Queen's　dresses；　two　women　to　fold　and　press　such　articles　as　required　it；　two　valets；　and　a　porter　of　the　wardrobe。　　The　latter　brought　every　morning　into　the　Queen's　apartments　baskets　covered　with　taffety；　containing　all　that　she　was　to　wear　during　the　day；　and　large　cloths　of　green　taffety　covering　the　robes　and　the　full　dresses。　　The　valet　of　the　wardrobe　on　duty　presented　every　morning　a　large　book　to　the　first　femme　de　chambre；　containing　patterns　of　the　gowns；　full　dresses；　undresses；　etc。　　Every　pattern　was　marked；　to　show　to　which　sort　it　belonged。　　The　first　femme　de　chambre　presented　this　book　to　the　Queen　on　her　awaking；　with　a　pincushion；　her　Majesty　stuck　pins　in　those　articles　which　she　chose　for　the　day；　…one　for　the　dress；　one　for　the　afternoon…undress；　and　one　for　the　full　evening　dress　for　card　or　supper　parties　in　the　private　apartments。　　The　book　was　then　taken　back　to　the　wardrobe；　and　all　that　was　wanted　for　the　day　was　soon　after　brought　in　in　large　taffety　wrappers。　　The　wardrobe　woman；　who　had　the　care　of　the　linen；　in　her　turn　brought　in　a　covered　basket　containing　two　or　three　chemises　and　handkerchiefs。　　The　morning　basket　was　called　pret　du　jour。　　In　the　evening　she　brought　in　one　containing　the　nightgown　and　nightcap；　and　the　stockings　for　the　next　morning；　this　basket　was　called　pret　de　la　nuit。　　They　were　in　the　department　of　the　lady　of　honour；　the　tirewoman　having　nothing　to　do　with　the　linen。　　Nothing　was　put　in　order　or　taken　care　of　by　the　Queen's　women。　　As　soon　as　the　toilet　was　over；　the　valets　and　porter　belonging　to　the　wardrobe　were　called　in；　and　they　carried　all　away　in　a　heap；　in　the　taffety　wrappers；　to　the　tirewoman's　wardrobe；　where　all　were　folded　up　again；　hung　up；　examined；　and　cleaned　with　so　much　regularity　and　care　that　even　the　cast…off　clothes　scarcely　looked　as　if　they　had　been　worn。　　The　tirewoman's　wardrobe　consisted　of　three　large　rooms　surrounded　with　closets；　some　furnished　with　drawers　and　others　with　shelves；　there　were　also　large　tables　in　each　of　these　rooms；　on　which　the　gowns　and　dresses　were　spread　out　and　folded　up。

For　the　winter　the　Queen　had　generally　twelve　full　dresses；　twelve　undresses　called　fancy　dresses；　and　twelve　rich　hoop　petticoats　for　the　card　and　supper　parties　in　the　smaller　apartments。

She　had　as　many　for　the　summer；　those　for　the　spring　served　likewise　for　the　autumn。　　All　these　dresses　were　discarded　at　the　end　of　each　season；　unless；　indeed；　she　retained　some　that　she　particularly　liked。　　I　am　not　speaking　of　muslin　or　cambric　gowns；　or　others　of　the　same　kindthey　were　lately　introduced；　but　such　as　these　were　not　renewed　at　each　returning　season；　they　were　kept　several　years。　　The　chief　women　were　charged　with　the　care　and　examination　of　the　diamonds；　this　important　duty　was　formerly　confided　to　the　tirewoman；　but　for　many　years　had　been　included　in　the　business　of　the　first　femmes　de　chambre。

The　public　toilet　took　place　at　noon。　　The　toilet…table　was　drawn　forward　into　the　middle　of　the　room。　　This　piece　of　furniture　was　generally　the　richest　and　most　ornamented　of　all　in　the　apartment　of　the　Princesses。　The　Queen　used　it　in　the　same　manner　and　place　for　undressing　herself　in　the　evening。　　She　went　to　bed　in　corsets　trimmed　with　ribbon；　and　sleeves　trimmed　with　lace；　and　wore　a　large　neck　handkerchief。　　The　Queen's　combing　cloth　was　presented　by　her　first　woman　if　she　was　alone　at　the　commencement　of　the　toilet；　or；　as　well　as　the　other　articles；　by　the　ladies　of　honour　if　they　were　come。　　At　noon　the　women　who　had　been　in　attendance　four　and　twenty　hours　were　relieved　by　two　women　in　full　dress；　the　first　woman　went　also　to　dress　herself。　　The　grandee　entrees　were　admitted　during　the　toilet；　sofas　were　placed　in　circles　for　the　superintendent；　the　ladies　of　honour；　and　tirewomen；　and　the　governess　of　the　children　of　France　when　she　came　there；　the　duties　of　the　ladies　of　the　bedchamber；　having　nothing　to　do　with　any　kind　of　domestic　or　private　functions；　did　not　begin　until　the　hour　of　going　out　to　mass；　they　waited　in　the　great　closet；　and　entered　when　the　toilet　was　over。　　The　Princes　of　the　blood；　captains　of　the　Guards；　and　all　great　officers　having　the　entry　paid　their　court　at　the　hour　of　the　toilet。　　The　Queen　saluted　by　nodding　her　head　or　bending　her　body；　or　leaning　upon　her　toilet…table　as　if　moving　to　rise；　the　last　mode　of　salutation　was　for　the　Princes　of　the　blood。　　The　King's　brothers　also　came　very　generally　to　pay　their　respects　to　her　Majesty　while　her　hair　was　being　dressed。　　In　the　earlier　years　of　the　reign　the　first　part　of　the　dressing　was　performed　in　the　bedchamber　and　according　to　the　laws　of　etiquette；　that　is　to　say；　the　lady　of　honour　put　on　the　chemise　and　poured　out　the　water　for　the　hands；　the　tirewoman　put　on　the　skirt　of　the　gown　or　full　dress；　adjusted　the　handkerchief；　and　tied　on　the　necklace。　　But　when　the　young　Queen　became　more　seriously　devoted　to　fashion；　and　the　head…dress　attained　so　extravagant　a　height　that　it　became　necessary　to　put　on　the　chemise　from　below；when；　in　short；　she　determined　to　have　her　milliner；　Mademoiselle　Benin；　with　her　whilst　she　was　dressing；　whom　the　ladies　would　have　refused　to　admit　to　any　share　in　the　honour　of　attending　on　the　Queen；　the　dressing　in　the　bedchamber　was　discontinued；　and　the　Queen；　leaving　her　toilet；　withdrew　into　her　closet　to　dress。

On　returning　into　her　chamber；　the　Queen；　standing　about　the　middle　of　it；　surrounded　by　the　superintendent；　the　ladies　of　honour　and　tirewomen；　her　ladies　of　the　palace；　the　chevalier　d'honneur；　the　chief　equerry；　her　clergy　ready　to　attend　her　to　mass；　and　the　Princesses　of　the　royal　fam