the daughter of an empress-第10部分

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〃I　will　be　a　true　sister　to　him；〃　whispered　Julia　in　return；　〃always　believe　in　me　and　trust　me。　And　now；　my　Anna；　calmness　and　self…　possession！　I　already　hear　your　husband's　approach。　Be　strong　and　great。　Let　no　feature　of　your　dear　face　betray　your　inward　commotion！〃

And；　stepping　back　to　the　count；　Julia　made　a　sign　to　the　priest　to　commence　the　marriage　ceremony。

Hand　in　hand　the　bridal　pair　knelt　before　the　priest；　the　servants　folded　their　hands　in　prayer；　and；　proudly　erect；　with　a　heavenly　transfiguration　of　her　noble　face；　stood　Anna　Leopoldownathe　priest　commenced　the　ceremony。

A　slight　noise　was　heard　at　the　closed；　concealed　door。　The　priest　calmly　continued　to　speak；　the　bridal　pair　remained　in　their　kneeling　position；　and；　calmly　smiling；　stood　the　regent　by　their　side。

The　door　opened；　and；　followed　by　his　generals；　the　enraged　prince　appeared　upon　the　threshold。

No　one　suffered　himself　to　be　disturbed；　the　priest　continued　the　service；　the　parties　remained　upon　their　knees；　Anna　Leopoldowna　stood　looking　on　with　a　proud　and　tranquil　smile。

Motionless；　benumbed；　as　if　struck　by　lightning；　remained　the　prince　upon　the　threshold；　behind　him　were　seen　the　astonished　faces　of　his　generals；　who；　on　tiptoe；　stretched　their　necks　to　gaze；　over　each　other's　shoulders；　upon　this　singular　and　unexpected　spectacle！

At　length　a　murmur　arose；　they　pressed　farther　forward　toward　the　door；　and；　overcoming　his　momentary　stupefaction；　the　prince　ventured　into　the　room。

An　angry　glance　of　the　priest　commanded　silence；　with　a　louder　voice　he　continued　his　prayer。　Anna　Leopoldowna　smilingly　beckoned　her　husband　to　her　side；　and　slightly　nodded　to　the　generals。

They　bowed　to　the　ground　before　their　august　mistress；　the　regent。

Now　came　the　closing　prayer　and　the　dispensation　of　the　blessing。　The　priest　pronounced　it　kneeling；the　regent　also　bent　the　knee；　and　drew　the　prince　down　beside　her。　Following　the　example　of　the　generalissimo；　the　other　generals　also　sank　upon　their　knees；it　was　a　general　prayer；　which　no　one　dared　disturb。

The　ceremony　was　ended。　The　priest　kissed　and　blessed　the　bridal　pair；　and　then　departed　with　his　assistants；　he　was　followed　by　the　servants　of　the　favorite。

Anna　now　turned　with　a　proud　smile　to　the　prince。

〃Accident；　my　husband；　has　made　you　a　witness　of　this　marriage；〃　said　she。　〃May　I　ask　your　highness　what　procures　me　this　unexpected　and　somewhat　intrusive　visit；　and　why　my　generals；　unannounced；　accompany　you　to　their　regent　and　mistress？〃

The　embarrassed　prince　stammered　some　unintelligible　words；　to　which　Anna　paid　no　attention。

Stepping　forward；　she　motioned　the　generals　to　enter；　and　with　her　most　fascinating　smile　said：　〃Ah；　I　think　I　now　know　the　reason　of　your　coming；　gentlemen！　Your　loyal　and　faithful　hearts　yearn　for　a　sight　of　your　young　emperor。　It　is　true；　his　faithful　subjects　have　not　seen　him　for　a　long　time！　Even　a　sovereign　is　not　guaranteed　against　the　evil　influences　of　the　weather；　which　has　lately　been　very　rough；　and　for　that　reason　the　young　czar　has　been　unable　to　show　himself　to　his　people。　Ah；　it　pleases　me　that　you　have　come；　and　I　am　obliged　to　my　husband　for　bringing　you　to　me　so　unexpectedly。　You　may　now　satisfy　yourselves　that　the　emperor　lives　and　is　growing　fast。　Julia；　bring　us　the　young　emperor！〃

Julia　von　Mengden　silently　departed；　while　Count　Lynar；　respectfully　approaching　the　regent；　said　a　few　words　to　her　in　a　low　tone。

〃You　are　quite　right；　sir　count；〃　said　the　regent　aloud；　and；　turning　to　her　husband　and　the　generals；　continued：　〃Count　Lynar　is　in　some　trouble　about　the　unexpected　publicity　given　to　his　marriage。　There　are；　however；　important　reasons　for　keeping　it　still　a　secret。　The　family　of　my　maid　of　honor　are　opposed　to　this　alliance　with　the　foreigner；　and　insist　that　Julia　shall　marry　another　whom　they　have　destined　for　her。　On　the　other　hand；　certain　family　considerations　render　secrecy　the　duty　of　the　count。　Julia；　oppressed　by　her　inexorable　relations；　disclosed　the　state　of　affairs　to　me；　and　as　I　love　Julia；　and　as　I　saw　that　she　was　wasting　away　with　grief　without　the　possession　of　her　lover；　I　favored　her　connection　with　Count　Lynar。　They　daily　saw　each　other　in　my　apartments；　and；　finally　yielding　to　their　united　prayers；　I　consented　that　they　should　this　day　be　legally　united　by　the　priest；　and　thus　defeat　the　opposition　of　their　respective　families。

〃This；　gentlemen；〃　continued　Anna；　raising　her　voice；　〃is　the　simple　explanation　of　this　mystery。　I　owe　this　explanation　to　myself；　well　knowing　that　secret　slander　and　malicious　insinuations　might　seek　to　implicate　me　in　this　affair；　and　that　a　certain　inimical　and　evil…　disposed　party；　displeased　that　you　should　have　a　woman　for　regent；　would　be　glad　to　prove　to　you　that　all　women　are　weak；　faulty；　and　sinful　creatures！　Be　careful　how　you　credit　such　miserable　tales！〃

Silent；　with　downcast　eyes；　stood　the　generals　under　the　flashing　glance　of　the　regent；　who　now　turned　to　her　husband　with　a　mocking　smile。　〃You；　my　prince　and　husband；〃　said　she；　〃you　I　have　to　thank！　your　tenderness　of　heart　induced　you　generously　to　furnish　me　with　this　opportunity　to　justify　my　conduct　to　my　most　distinguished　and　best…beloved　subjects　and　servants；　and　thus　to　break　the　point　of　the　weapon　with　which　calumny　threatened　my　breast！　I　therefore　thank　you；　my　husband。　But　see！　there　comes　the　emperor。〃

In　fact；　the　folding…doors　were　at　this　moment　thrown　open；　and　a　long　train　of　palace　officials　and　servants　approached。　At　the　head　of　the　train　was　Julia　von　Mengden；　bearing　a　velvet　cushion　bespangled　with　brilliants；　upon　which　reposed　the　child　in　a　dress　of　gold　brocade。　On　both　sides　were　seen　the　richly　adorned　nurses　and　attendants；　and　near　them　the　major…domo；　bearing　upon　a　golden　cushion　the　imperial　crown　and　other　insignia　of　empire。

Anna　Leopoldowna　took　young　Ivan　in　her　arms；　the　child　smiled　in　her　face；　and　stretched　forth　his　hand　toward　the　sparkling　crown。

With　her　son　upon　her　arm；　Anna　majestically　advanced　to　the　centre　of　the　hall；　and；　lifting　up　the　child；　said：　〃Behold　your　emperor！　Respect　and　reverence　for　your　illustrious　master！　Upon　your　knees　in　the　presence　of　your　emperor！〃

It　was　as　if　all；　servants；　attendants；　and　generals；　had　been　struck　with　a　magic　wand。　They　all　fell　upon　their　knees；　and　bowed　their　heads　to　the　earthvenal　slaves；　one　word　from　their　ruler　sufficed　to　set　them　all　grovelling　in　the　dust！

With　a　proud　smile　Anna　enjoyed　this　triumph。　Near　her　stood　the　prince；　the　father　of　the　emperor；　with　rage　and　shame　in　his　heart。

〃Long　live　the　emperor！〃　resounded　from　all　lips；　and　the　child　Ivan；　Emperor　of　all　the　Russias；　screeched　for　joy　at　the　noise　and　at　the　splendor　of　the　assemblage。

〃Long　live　our　noble　regent；　Anna　Leopoldowna！〃　now　loudly　cried　Julia　von　Mengden。

Like　a　thundering　cry　of　jubilation　it　was　instantly　echoed　through　the　hall。

The　generals　were　the　first　to　join　in　this　enthusiastic　/viva！/

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later　the　generals　were　permitted　to　retire；　and　the　emperor　was　reconveyed　to　his　apartments。

Anna　Leopoldowna　remained　alone　with　her　husband　and　the　newly…married　pair；　who　had　retreated　to　the　recess　of　a　window　and　were　whispering　together。

Anna　now　turned　to　her　husband；　and；　with　cutting　coldness　in　her　tone；　said：

〃You　must　understand；　my　husband；　that　I　am　very　generous。　It　was　in　my　power　to　arrest　you　as　a　traitor；　but　I　preferred　to　shame　you；　because　you；　unhappily；　are　the　father　of　my　child。〃

〃You　think；　then；〃　asked　the　prince；　with　a　scornful　smile；　〃that　I　shall　take　the　buffoonery　you　have　just　had　played　before　us　for　truth？〃

〃That；　my　prince；　must　wholly　depend　upon　your　own　good　pleasure。　But　for　the　present　I　must　request　you　to　retire　to　your　own　apartments！　I　feel　myself　much　moved　and　exhausted；　and　have　also　to　prepare　some　secret　dispatches　for　Count　Lynar　to　take　with　him　in　his　journey。〃

〃Count　Lynar　is；　then；　to　leave　us？〃　quickly　asked　the　prince；　in　an　evidently　more　friendly　tone。

〃Yes；〃　said　Anna；　〃he　leaves　us　for　some　weeks　to　visit　the　estate　in　Liefland　which　I　have　given　to　Julia　as　a　bridal　present；　and　to　make　there　the　necessary　preparations　for　the　proper　reception　of　his　wife。〃

Julia　clasped　the　hands　of　her　mistress；　and　bathed　them　with　tears　of　joy　and　gratitude。

〃Anna；〃　whispered　Prince　Ulrich；　〃I　did　you　wrong。　Pardon　me。〃

Anna　coldly　responded：　〃I　will　pardon　you　if　you　will　be　generous　enough　to　allow　me　a　little　repose。〃

The　prince　silently　and　respectfully　withdrew。

Anna　finally；　left　alone　with　her　lover　and　her　favorite；　sank　exhausted　upon　a　divan。

〃Close　the　doors；　Julia；　that　no　one　may　surprise　us；〃　she　faintly　murmured。　〃I　will　take　leave。　Oh；　I　would　be　left　for　at　least　a　quarter　of　an　hour　undisturbed　in　my　unhappiness。〃

〃Then　it　is　quite　true　that　you　intend　to　drive　me　away？〃　asked　Count　Lynar；　kneeling　and　clasping　her　hands。　〃You　are　determined　to　send　me　into　banishment？〃

Anna　gave　him　a　glance　of　tenderness。

〃No；〃　said　she；　〃I　will　send　myself　into　banishment；　for　I　shall　not　see　you　dearest。　But　I　felt　that　this　sacrifice　was　necessary。　Julia　has　sacrificed　herself　for　us。　With　another　love　in　her　heart；　she　has　magnanimously　thrown　away　her　freedom　and　given　up　her　maiden　love　for　the　promotion　of　our　happiness。　We　owe　it　to　her　to　preserve　her　honor　untarnished；　that　the　calumnious　crowd　may　not　pry　into　the　motives　of　her　generous　act。　For　Julia's　sake；　the　world　must　and　shall　believe　that　she　is　in　fact　your　wife；　and　that　it　was　love　that　united　you。　We　must；　therefore；　preserve　appearances；　and　you　must　conduct　your　wife　to　your　estate　in　triumph。　Decency　requires　it；　and　we　cannot　disregard　its　requirements。〃

〃Princess　Anna　is　in　the　right；〃　said　Julia；　〃you　must　absent　yourself　for　a　few　weeksnot　for　my　sake；　who　little　desire　any　such　triumph；　but　that　the　world　may　believe　the　tale；　and　no　longer　suspect　my　princess。〃

It　was　a　sweetly　painful　houra　farewell　so　tearful；　and　yet　so　full　of　deeply…felt　happiness。　On　that　very　night　was　the　count　to　commence　his　journey　to　Liefland　and　Warsaw。　As　they　wished　to　make　no　se