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"Rely upon me," whispered Alexis, "she must and shall join in our

plans"

He approached the princess, alking the roo vent to her internal exciteer

in loud exclahed Alexis, pressing Elizabeth's treer in my heart, that

I at least may not live to see you married to another!"

"No, you shall not die," cried Elizabeth, with fierce vehe her arms around Razumovsky's neck "I will kno to defend

you and myself, Alexis! Ah, they would shackle me,--they would force e Yes, I hate those unnatural

fetters which could command my heart, force it into obedience to an

unnatural law, and degrade divine free love, which would flutter from

flower to flower, into a necessity and a duty It is an unnatural

lahich would compel us forever to love a man because he pleased us

yesterday or may please us to-day, and who perhaps may not please us

to-nance! Would

they forge these ent Anna, you are

this time mistaken; you may be all-powerful in this empire, but you

cannot and shall not extend that power overhis shoulders, "hoill Princess