2 7 o BY ORDER OF THE CZAR.

• I am glad you speak of him as a youth," Ferrari

replied.

" Why ? "

" Because you will regard his passion as that of a boy, and not let it move your woman's nature that you speak of."

" But, Andrea, it has, it has ! I am miserable as a con- sequence, miserable. I have the feeling of a dream that blots out all but my father's house in the sweet time you know of."

" Before I came and pulled it all down about you."

" No, no, Andrea Ferrari."

" Yes, yes, I say, it was I. But for me you would have been happy ; it was I who gave the excuse for butchery, and worse and worse," he repeated significantly.

" No, no ; some other excuse would have been found."

" But why this confession, Anna Klosstock, Countess St raven sky why ? "

" Not to alter our plans, Andrea, but to relieve my mind.*'

" If I had not been old enough to be your father," said Ferrari, sitting by her side and taking her hand, " old enough, but not good enough ; if I had been young and had been made for what women call love, it would have been well Anna, if we could have joined what is called hands and hearts.

" And would you after what you say is worse than but- chery ? And would you with the brand of the knout upon her?"

" Ah, my child," Ferrari replied as if they were discussing a more or less ordinary matter, " that brand is an honor. But you love this English painter, eh ? Is it so after all your vows, after your pledges, and with the work you have to do that is so far away from such ideas, and the hottest