net, began inside her. She fought hard to appear calm as she was led to a room where on each side of the double doors stood the TsarТs own personal guards in resplendent uniforms. The doors opened and closed behind her. She was standing in the TsarТs study.
“As I entered the room,” Babushka said, “I saw at the far end two uniformed men sitting behind a large desk. Of course, in the past I had seen portraits of the Tsar, but now I suddenly panicked. Both men were handsome, both appeared to be alike, but as I stood rooted to the floor asking myself which was the Tsar, one of them rose and walked towards me.
I knew at once he was the Tsar. He was tall and possessed great majesty, yet that wasnТt what overwhelmed me … Never, never in all my life have I seen kinder or more compassionate eyes … I forgot all the instructions and advice, all that I had to do and not to do … I simply went down on my knees and wept.” She paused for a moment then continued. “He helped me to my feet. СNye-nado, nye-nadoТ… Сthis isnТt necessary,5 he chided me gently. СI know of your case,Т he went on. СI understand that you have come all the way from Archangel?Т I nodded dumbly. He began to ask me all about the journey, Archangel, my family, and as he spoke simply, kindly Ч
it came to me that after all the Tsar was just another human being like all his subjects with the same griefs, joys and frailties.
“At first I answered timidly, but gradually with more confidence. I sensed his genuine interest in our town, where once his illustrious ancestor Peter the Great built his first sea-going ship and sailed it across the White Sea. He mentioned our ancient Solovetsky Monastery on the islands in the White Sea. Had I ever been there? СOh yes, your Majesty,Т I said. СWe go there almost every summer. It is beautiful. Your Majesty should see it.
The Tsar smiled. СPerhaps one day I shall visit these places.Т He fell silent for a moment. Then, looking down from his great height, he placed his hand on my shoulder and said the words which were to remain in my mind and heart for all time. СYour husband is very fortunate to have you for his wife. Go back to Archangel. I give you my word that your child will have his father and you can tell his mother that her son will return. Go with God.Т He said no more. The interview was over.” The following morning, after despatching a telegram to Archangel proclaiming the good news, they left St Petersburg. Fate, always capricious, now favoured them.
There was no fog, and the clear crisp frost, although intensely cold, was not followed by blinding blizzards. The troika kept up speed on the highways and skimmed over lakes and rivers. Villages, churches, woods and fields flashed by. Fresh horses available in all the post houses avoided any delay. They halted only for the barest necessities, refreshed themselves, drank some hot tea and drove on. A sense of achievement and of great exaltation spurred them on. Yenya herself, now in the last stages of pregnancy, and suffering acute discomfort in the confined space of the kibitka, was sustained by the TsarТs promise. “The Tsar has promised Ч the Tsar will keep his word,” she kept repeating to herself like the words of some happy song. On the other hand, Anna, always calm and an inspiration to them all, now became worried and agitated. Her experienced eye had told her that the position of the child had changed and that the birth could be imminent. Stepan, who drove with his usual skill and sang happily at the prospect of being well rewarded for his achievement and of returning to his own young wife and his children, had to bear the brunt of AnnaТs impatience. “Faster, faster,” she would command him and when he complied and the kibitka rolled and leaped over ruts, she would call out in anger, “Do you wish to kill my daughter?” It was impossible to please her. She worried when in the heat of the post houses YenyaТs face became
“As I entered the room,” Babushka said, “I saw at the far end two uniformed men sitting behind a large desk. Of course, in the past I had seen portraits of the Tsar, but now I suddenly panicked. Both men were handsome, both appeared to be alike, but as I stood rooted to the floor asking myself which was the Tsar, one of them rose and walked towards me.
I knew at once he was the Tsar. He was tall and possessed great majesty, yet that wasnТt what overwhelmed me … Never, never in all my life have I seen kinder or more compassionate eyes … I forgot all the instructions and advice, all that I had to do and not to do … I simply went down on my knees and wept.” She paused for a moment then continued. “He helped me to my feet. СNye-nado, nye-nadoТ… Сthis isnТt necessary,5 he chided me gently. СI know of your case,Т he went on. СI understand that you have come all the way from Archangel?Т I nodded dumbly. He began to ask me all about the journey, Archangel, my family, and as he spoke simply, kindly Ч
it came to me that after all the Tsar was just another human being like all his subjects with the same griefs, joys and frailties.
“At first I answered timidly, but gradually with more confidence. I sensed his genuine interest in our town, where once his illustrious ancestor Peter the Great built his first sea-going ship and sailed it across the White Sea. He mentioned our ancient Solovetsky Monastery on the islands in the White Sea. Had I ever been there? СOh yes, your Majesty,Т I said. СWe go there almost every summer. It is beautiful. Your Majesty should see it.
The Tsar smiled. СPerhaps one day I shall visit these places.Т He fell silent for a moment. Then, looking down from his great height, he placed his hand on my shoulder and said the words which were to remain in my mind and heart for all time. СYour husband is very fortunate to have you for his wife. Go back to Archangel. I give you my word that your child will have his father and you can tell his mother that her son will return. Go with God.Т He said no more. The interview was over.” The following morning, after despatching a telegram to Archangel proclaiming the good news, they left St Petersburg. Fate, always capricious, now favoured them.
There was no fog, and the clear crisp frost, although intensely cold, was not followed by blinding blizzards. The troika kept up speed on the highways and skimmed over lakes and rivers. Villages, churches, woods and fields flashed by. Fresh horses available in all the post houses avoided any delay. They halted only for the barest necessities, refreshed themselves, drank some hot tea and drove on. A sense of achievement and of great exaltation spurred them on. Yenya herself, now in the last stages of pregnancy, and suffering acute discomfort in the confined space of the kibitka, was sustained by the TsarТs promise. “The Tsar has promised Ч the Tsar will keep his word,” she kept repeating to herself like the words of some happy song. On the other hand, Anna, always calm and an inspiration to them all, now became worried and agitated. Her experienced eye had told her that the position of the child had changed and that the birth could be imminent. Stepan, who drove with his usual skill and sang happily at the prospect of being well rewarded for his achievement and of returning to his own young wife and his children, had to bear the brunt of AnnaТs impatience. “Faster, faster,” she would command him and when he complied and the kibitka rolled and leaped over ruts, she would call out in anger, “Do you wish to kill my daughter?” It was impossible to please her. She worried when in the heat of the post houses YenyaТs face became
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