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On the next day Elizabeth appointed Alexis field-marshal, and raised hiive our son a respectable father," said she "I

hope we shall have a son, ill be as beautiful as his father; whoh above all the hter, Alexis!"

"And why no daughter?" sing to her beloved, whispered: "Has not Eleonore Lapuschkin said, 'Give her a daughter, and let her,

before the eyes of her mother, experience what I now suffer!' Oh,

Alexis, wish hter! I shall always tremble for her!"

And God seemed to have listened to the anxious prayer of the eain the son died shortly after his birth

"It is very sad to lose a child, and especially a son," sighed

Elizabeth, and involuntarily she thought of Anna, that poor row up in eternal joyless

iht be morally murdered, and froeance!" whispered so in her breast, but

Elizabeth shrank fros of her conscience, and she

tremulously said: "I will not listen to it! Away, ye intrusive thoughts!