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The blow nearly killed ave way, and his usually silent sorrow burst into bitter plaints: "What! ives hirandfather died on the scaffold in defense of his convictions! But, that a noble should betray his oath, unite with bandits, knaves and revolted slaves! shahtened by his despair, rief, and Marie was more desolate than they Persuaded that I could justify myself if I chose, she divined the motive of my silence, and believed that she was the cause of , seated on his sofa,over the leaves of the "Court Alhts were far away, and the book did not produce its usual effect upon hi in silence, and from time to ti in the same room, without any prelude declared to , and begged them to furnish her the means

My mother said: "Why will you leave us?"

Marie replied that her fate depended on this journey; that she was going to claihter of a man who had perished a victim to his loyalty

My father bowed his head A hich recalled the supposed crime of his son, seeh; "ill not place an obstacle to your happiness May God give you an honorable husband and not a traitor!"

He rose and left the room Alone with my mother, Marie confided to her, in part, the object of her journey My mother, in tears, kissed her and prayed for the success of the project A few days after, Marie, Polacca and Saveliitch left home

When Marie reached Sofia, she learned that the Court was at that moment in residence at the summer palace of Tzarskoie-Selo She decided to stop there, and obtained a small room at the post-house The post mistress came to chat with the new-comer She told Marie, pompously, that she was the niece of an official attached to the Court--her uncle having the honor of attending to the fires in her Majesty's abode! Marie soon knehat hour the Empress rose, took her coffee, and went on the proe from the memoirs of the times, and would be very precious in our days The toardens, where Anna told Marie the roe over the artificial streaardens The weather was superb The sun gilded the linden tops, already seared by the Autumn frosts The broad lake sparkled, the swans, just aroused, careen sward, when a little dog, of English blood, ca She was startled; but a voice of rare refinement said: "He will not bite you; do not be afraid"