d in the winter penetrated through the
ill-fitted windows and doors. Alexis paid no heed to these things;
but, leaving his wife to suffer, spent his time in drinking and
carousing with Afrosinia and his other companions in vice.

During all this time the attention of the Czar was so much engaged with
the affairs of the empire that he could not interfere efficiently.
Sometimes he would upbraid Alexis for his undutiful and wicked
behavior, and threaten him severely; but the only effect of his
remonstrances would be to cause Alexis to go into the apartment of his
wife as soon as his father had left him, and assail her in the most
abusive manner, overwhelming her with rude and violent reproaches for
having, as he said, made complaints to his father, or "told tales," as
he called it, and so having occasioned his father to find fault with
him. This the princess would deny. She would solemnly declare that
she had not made any complaints whatever. Alexis, however, would not
believe her, but would repeat his denunciations, and then go away in a
rage.

This state of things continued for three or four years. During that
time the princess had one child, a daughter; and at length the time
arrived when she was to give birth to a son; but even the approach of
such a time of trial did not awaken any feeling of kind regard or
compassion on the part of her husband. His neglect still continued.
No suitable arrangements were made for the princess, and she received
no proper attention during her confinement. The consequence was, that,
in a few days after the birth of the child, fever set in, and the
princess sank so rapidly under it that her life was soon despaired of.

When she found that she was about to die, she asked that the Czar might
be sent for to come and see her. Peter was sick at this time, and
almost confined to his bed; but still--let it be remembered to his
honor--he would not refuse this request. A bed, or litter, was placed
for him on a sort of truck, and in this manner he was conveyed to the
palace where the princess was lying. She thanked him very earnestly
for coming to see her, and then begged to commit her children, and the
servants who had come with her from her native land, and who had
remained faithful to her through all her trials, to his protection and
care. She kissed her children, and took leave of them in the most
affecting manner, and then placed them in the arms of the Czar. The
Czar received th