The Lonesomest Doll
quiet now and had no help to offer in finding out the way. Clotilde did not know that all the servants, and officials, and relatives of the Queen were out hunting for her in every direction, and that bands of soldiers on horseback were galloping off into the neighboring towns to inquire whether she had been seen there or not.
She did not guess that even now Nichette, frightened and sobbing, was telling her father and mother all about it. It was Pierre’s big boots and his loud voice, full of anger and puzzlement over the loss of his keys, that had so frightened Clotilde. But she need not have been afraid. That loud voice belonged to a kind heart, and those big boots were now hurrying out along the road in loving pursuit of the little Queen in whose service they had tramped ever since she was a baby.
Alas! Pierre was tramping in the opposite direction, and so were the servants, officials, relatives, and soldiers. But other boots were striding along the road towards Clotilde. She heard them coming, but she was too tired to run away. Perhaps,—she hoped,—perhaps they might belong to friends.
