the daughter of an empress-第11部分

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to　make　no　secret　of　the　marriage；　the　count　needed　the　consent　of　his　court　and　his　family。

Anna　provided　him　with　letters　and　passports。　The　best　and　fairest　of　the　estates　of　the　crown　in　Liefland　was　assigned　to　Julia　as　a　bridal　present；　and　the　count　was　furnished　with　the　proper　documents　to　enable　him　to　take　possession　of　it。

And　finally　came　the　parting　moment！　For　the　last　time　they　lay　in　each　other's　arms；　they　mutually　swore　eternal　love；　unconquerable　fidelityall　that　a　loving　couple　could　swear！

Tearing　himself　from　her　embrace；　he　rushed　to　the　door。

Anna　stretches　out　her　arms　toward　him；　her　brow　is　pallid；　her　eyes　fixed。　The　door　opens；　he　turns　for　one　last　look；　and　nods　a　farewell。　Ah；　with　her　last　glance　she　would　forever　enchain　that　noble　and　beautiful　facewith　her　extended　arms　she　would　forever　retain　that　majestic　form。

〃Farewell；　Anna；　farewell！〃

The　door　closes　behind　himhe　is　gone！

A　cold　shudder　convulsed　Anna's　form；　a　bodeful　fear　took　possession　of　her　mind。　It　lay　upon　her　heart　like　a　dark　mourning…veil。

〃I　shall　never；　never　see　him　again！〃　she　shrieked；　sinking　unconscious　into　Julia's　arms。



PRINCESS　ELIZABETH

While　a　Mecklenburg　princess　had　attained　to　the　regency　of　Russia；　and　while　her　son　was　hailed　as　emperor；　the　Princess　Elizabeth　lived　alone　and　unnoticed　in　her　small　and　modestly…furnished　throne；　and　yet　in　St。　Petersburg　was　living　the　only　rightful　heir　to　the　empire；　the　daughter　of　Czar　Peter　the　Great！　And　as　she　was　young；　beautiful；　and　amiable；　how　came　she　to　be　set　aside　to　make　room　for　a　stranger　upon　the　throne　of　her　father；　which　belonged　to　her　alone？

Princess　Elizabeth　had　voluntarily　kept　aloof　from　all　political　intrigues　and　all　revolutions。　In　the　interior　of　her　palace　she　passed　happy　days；　her　world；　her　life；　and　her　pleasures　were　there。　Princess　Elizabeth　desired　not　to　reign；　her　only　wish　was　to　love　and　be　loved。　The　intoxicating　splendor　of　worldly　greatness　was　not　so　inviting　to　her　as　the　more　intoxicating　pleasure　of　blessed　and　happy　love。　She　would；　above　all　things；　be　a　woman；　and　enjoy　the　full　possession　of　her　youth　and　happiness。

What　cared　she　that　her　own　rightful　throne　was　occupied　by　a　stranger　what　cared　she　for　the　blinding　shimmer　of　a　crown？　Ah；　it　troubled　her　not　that　she　was　poor；　and　possessed　not　even　the　means　of　bestowing　presents　upon　her　favorites　and　friends。　But　she　felt　happy　in　her　poverty；　for　she　was　free　to　love　whom　she　would；　to　raise　to　herself　whomsoever　she　might　please。

It　was　a　festival　day　that　they　were　celebrating　in　the　humble　palace　of　the　emperor's　daughter　Elizabethcertainly　a　festival　day；　for　it　was　the　name…day　of　the　princess。

The　rooms　were　adorned　with　festoons　and　garlands；　and　all　her　dependants　and　friends　were　gathered　around　her。　Elizabeth　saw　not　the　limited　number　of　this　band；　she　enjoyed　herself　with　those　who　were　there；　and　lamented　not　the　much　greater　number　of　those　who　had　forgotten　her。

She　was　among　her　friends；　in　her　little　reception…room。　Evening　had　come；　the　household　and　the　less　trusted　and　favored　of　her　adherents　had　withdrawn；　and　only　the　most　intimate；　most　favored　friends　now　remained　with　the　princess。

They　had　conversed　so　long　that　they　now　recurred　to　the　enjoyment　of　that　always…ready；　always…pleasing　art；　music。　A　young　man　sang　to　the　accompaniment　of　a　guitar。

Elizabeth　listened；　listlessly　reclining　upon　her　divan。　Behind　her　stood　two　gentlemen；　who；　like　her；　were　delightedly　listening　to　the　singing　of　the　youth。

Elizabeth　was　a　blooming；　beautiful　woman。　She　was　to…day　charming　to　the　eye　in　the　crimson…velvet　robe；　embroidered　with　silver；　that　enveloped　her　full；　voluptuous　form；　leaving　her　neck　and　/gorge/　free；　and　displaying　the　delicate　whiteness　of　her　skin　in　beautiful　contrast　with　the　purple　of　her　robe。　Perhaps　a　severe　judge　might　not　have　pronounced　her　face　handsome　according　to　the　rules　of　the　antique；　but　it　was　one　of　those　faces　that　please　and　bewitch　the　other　sex；　one　of　those　beauties　whose　charm　consists　not　so　much　in　the　regularity　of　the　lines　as　in　the　ever…varying　expression。　There　was　so　much　that　was　winning；　enticing；　supercilious；　much…promising；　and　warm…glowing；　in　the　face　of　this　woman！　The　full；　swelling；　deep…　red　lips；　how　charming　were　they　when　she　smiled；　those　dark；　sparkling　eyes；　how　seducing　were　they　when　shaded　by　a　soft　veil　of　emotional　enthusiasm；　those　faintly…blushing　cheeks；　that　heaving　bosom；　that　voluptuous　form；　yet　resplendent　with　youthful　gayetyfor　Elizabeth　had　not　yet　reached　her　thirtieth　yearwhom　would　she　not　have　animated；　excited；　transported？

Elizabeth　knew　she　was　beautiful　and　attractive；　and　this　was　her　pride　and　her　joy。　She　could　easily　pardon　the　German　princess；　Anna　Leopoldowna；　for　occupying　the　throne　that　was　rightfully　her　own；　but　she　would　never　have　forgiven　the　regent　had　she　been　handsomer　than　herself。　Anna　Leopoldowna　was　the　most　powerful　woman　in　Russia；　but　she；　Elizabeth；　was　the　handsomest　woman　in　Russia；　which　was　all　she　coveted；　and　she　had　nothing　more　to　desire。

But　at　this　moment　she　thought　neither　of　Anna　Leopoldowna　nor　of　her　own　beauty；　but　only　of　the　singer　who　was　warbling　to　her　those　Russian　popular　songs　so　full　of　love　and　sadness　that　they　bring　tears　into　the　eyes　and　fill　the　heart　with　yearning。

Elizabeth　had　forgotten　all　around　hershe　heard　only　him；　saw　only　him；　her　whole　soul　lay　in　the　glances　with　which　she　observed　him；　and　around　her　mouth　played　one　of　those　bewitching　smiles　peculiar　to　her　in　moments　of　joy　and　satisfaction；　and　which　her　courtiers　knew　and　observed。

He　was　very　handsome；　this　young　singer；　and　as　Elizabeth　saw　him　in　this　moment；　she　congratulated　herself　that　her　connoisseur…glance　had　quickly　remarked　him；　when；　some　weeks　previously；　she　had　first　seen　him　as　the　precentor　of　the　imperial　chapel。

Surprised　and　excited　by　the　beauty　of　his　form　and　the　sweetness　of　his　voice；　Elizabeth　had　begged　him　of　the　lord…marshal　for　her　private　service；　and　since　then　Alexis　Razumovsky　had　entered　her　house　as　her　private　secretary　and　the　manager　of　her　small　estate。

While　Alexis　was　singing　with　his　sweetly…melting　tones；　Elizabeth　turned　her　swimming　eyes　to　the　two　men　who　were　standing　in　respectful　silence　behind　her。

〃You　must　acknowledge；〃　said　she　in　a　low　tone；　and　as　if　oppressed　by　internal　commotion；　〃that　you　never　saw　nor　heard　say　any　thing　finer　than　my　Alexis。〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　one　of　these　men；　with　a　low　bow；　〃we　have　seen　/you/！〃

〃And　did　we　not　yesterday　hear　you　sing　this　same　charming　slumber…　song；　princess？〃　asked　the　other。

Elizabeth　smiled。　〃It　is　already　well　known　that　Woronzow　and　Grunstein　must　always　flatter！〃　said　she。

〃No；　we　do　not　flatter；〃　responded　Woronzow；　the　chamberlain　of　the　princess；　〃we　only　love　truth！　You　ask　if　we　have　ever　seen　any　thing　more　beautiful　than　your　private　secretary；　and　we　answer　that　we　have　seen　/you/！〃

〃Well；　now；　you　have　all　so　often　assured　me　that　I　am　the　handsomest　woman　in　Russia；　that　at　length　I　am　compelled　to　believe　you。　But　Alexis　is　fortunately　a　man；　and　therefore　not　my　rival；　you　may；　then；　fearlessly　confess　that　Alexis　is　the　handsomest　of　all　men！　But　how　is　this？〃　exclaimed　the　princess；　interrupting　herself；　as　the　handsome　young　singer　suddenly　sprang　up　and　threw　his　guitar　aside　with　an　indignant　movement；　〃do　you　sing　no　more；　Alexis？〃

〃No；〃　frowardly　responded　the　young　man；　〃I　sing　no　more；　when　my　princess　no　longer　listens！〃

〃There；　see　the　ungrateful　man；〃　said　the　princess；　with　a　charming　smile〃he　was　occupying　all　my　thoughts；　and　yet　he　dares　complain！　You　are　a　malefactor　deserving　punishment。　Come　here　to　me；　Alexis；　kneel；　kiss　my　hand；　and　beg　for　pardon；　you　calumniator！〃

〃That　is　a　punishment　for　which　angels　might　be　grateful！〃　responded　Alexis　Razumovsky；　kneeling　to　the　princess　and　pressing　her　hand　to　his　burning　lips。　〃Ah；　that　I　might　oftener　incur　such　punishment！〃

〃Do　you　then　prefer　punishment　to　reward？〃　asked　Elizabeth；　tenderly　bending　down　to　him　and　looking　deep　into　his　eyes。

〃She　loves　him！〃　whispered　Grunstein　to　the　chamberlain　Woronzow。　〃She　certainly　loves　him！〃

Elizabeth's　fine　ear　caught　these　words；　and；　slowly　turning　her　head；　she　slightly　nodded。　〃Yes；〃　said　she；　〃Grunstein　is　rightshe　loves　him！　Congratulate　me；　therefore；　my　friends；　that　the　desert　void　in　my　heart　is　at　length　filledcongratulate　me　for　loving　him。　Ah；　nothing　is　sweeter；　holier；　or　more　precious　than　love；　and　I　can　tell　you　that　we　women　are　happy　only　when　we　are　under　the　influence　of　that　divine　passion。　Congratulate　me；　then；　my　friends；　for；　thank　God；　I　am　in　love！　Now；　Alexis；　what　have　you　to　say？〃

〃There　are　no　words　to　express　such　a　happiness；〃　cried　Alexis；　pressing　the　feet　of　the　princess　to　his　bosom。

〃Happiness；　then；　strikes　you　dumb；〃　laughed　the　princess；　〃and　will　not　allow　you　to　say　that　you　love　me？　Such　are　all　you　men。　You　envelope　yourselves　with　a　convenient　silence；　and　would　make　us　poor　women　believe　the　superabundance　of　feeling　deprives　you　of　utterance。〃

At　this　moment　the　door　was　softly　opened；　and　a　lackey；　who　made　his　appearance　at　the　threshold；　beckoned　to　Woronzow。

〃What　is　it；　Woronzow？〃　asked　the　princess；　while；　wholly　unembarrassed　by　the　presence　of　the　lackey；　she　played　with　the　profuse　dark　locks　of　the　kneeling　Razumovsky。

〃An　invitation　from　the　Regent　Anna　to　a　court…ball；　which　is　to　take　place　fourteen　days　hence；〃　said　Woronzow。

〃Ah；　our　good　cousin　is；　then；　so　gracious　as　to　remember　us；〃　cried　the　princess；　with　a　somewhat　clouded　brow。　〃It　will　certainly　be　a　very　magnificent　festival；　as　we　are　invited　so　many　days　in　advance。　How　sad　that　I　cannot　have　the　pleasure　of　being　present！〃

〃And　why　not；　if　one　may　be　allowed　to　ask；　princess？〃　asked　Woronzow。

〃Why？〃　sighed　Elizabeth。　〃Ask　my　waiting…woman；　she　will　tell　you　that　the　Princess　Elizabeth；　daughter　of　the　great　Czar　Peter；　has　not　one　single　robe　splendid　enough　to　render　her　presentable；　without　mortification；　at　a　court…ball　of　the　regent。〃

〃Whatever　robe　you　ma