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

240INTERVIEW WITH ТПЕ EMriiESS.

"Every thing that I see is new to me, Madame; and I can never cease to regret that I did not come to Russia in my youth."

" The heart and the imagination are always young."

I ventured no answer; for the empress, as well as myself, had no longer any other youth but that of which she spake — of which fact I did not wish to remind her; she would not have given me the time, nor, indeed, should I have had the boldness to tell her how many indemnifications may be found to console us for the flight of years. On retiring she said, with a grace which is her distinguishing attribute — Cí I shall recollect having suffered and admired with you : " and she afterwards added, " I do not leave yet; we shall meet again this evening."

I am very intimate with a Polish family, which is that of the woman whom the empress loves best —=

the Baroness . This lady was brought up in

Prussia with the daughter of the king, has followed that princess to Russia, and has never quitted her. She has married in Petersburg, where she has no other office but that of friend to the empress. Such constancy is honourable to both. The baroness must have been speaking well of me to the emperor and empress, and my natural timidity—a flattery so much the more refined as it is involuntary—has completed my good fortune.

On leaving the supper saloon, to pass into the ball room, I again approached a window. It opened into the interior court of the palace. A spectacle was there presented to me very different, but quite as unexpected as the former. The grand court of the winter palace is square, like that of the Louvre. During