Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

42TASTE OF THE EMPRESS.

and that my sons pursue their studies elsewhere, it has become too large for us."

I smiled, without replying : I was under u charm : it seemed to me that this woman, so different from her in whose honour was given the sumptuous fete that had just taken place, could share with me all my impressions ; she has felt like me, I thought, the weariness, the emptiness, the false brilliancy of this public magnificence, and she now feels that she is worthy of something better. I compared the flowers of the cottage with the lustres of the palace, the sun of a bright morning to the illuminations of a night of ceremony, the silence of a delicious retreat to the tumult of a palace crowd, the festival of nature to the festival of a court, the woman to the empress ; and I was enchanted with the good taste and the sense which this princess had shown in flying the satieties of public display, to surround herself with all that constitutes the charm of private life. It was a new fairy scene, the illusion of which captivated my imagination much more strongly than the magic of splendour and power.

" I would not explain myself to Madame,`'

continued the empress. " You shall see all over the cottage, and my son shall show it you. Meanwhile, I will go and visit my flowers, and shall find you again before we allow you to leave."

Such was the reception I met with from this lady, who is represented as haughty, not only in Europe, where she is scarcely known, 1mt in lîussia where they see her constantly.

At this moment, the hereditary Grand-duke joined

his mother. He was accompanied by Madame,

and her eldest daughter, a young person about four-