ost striking misery.

"Yes, perfectly; not exaggerated in the least," said she, hurriedly
blushing alike at the surprise and the interruption.

"You have no such misery, Monsieur le Prince, in Russia, I believe?"
remarked the priest, with a courteous bend of the head.

"We are well governed, sir; and nothing displays it more palpably than
that no man forgets his station," said the prince, with an insolent
hauteur that made Kate blush over neck and forehead, while D'Esmonde
stood calm and passionless under the sarcasm.

"So I have always heard, sir," said he, blandly. "I remember, when at
Wredna--"

"You have been at Wredna?" asked the Prince, in an altered voice.

But the other, not heeding the interruption, went on:

"I remember, when at Wredna, to have heard an anecdote which strikingly
illustrates the rigid obedience yielded to power, and the condition of
public opinion at the same time. A manumitted slave, who was raised to
high rank and wealth by the favor of the Czar, had returned to Wredna
in the capacity of governor. A short time after his arrival he was
tormented by applications and letters from a woman in great poverty
who asserted that she was his mother. Fedeorovna, of course in secret,
proved the truth of her assertion; but the only answer she received was
a significant caution to be silent, and not appeal to a relationship
which could only prove offensive. Perhaps incredulous of the authentic
character of so cruel a reply, perhaps stung to angry indignation by it,
she carried the humble basket of fruit and vegetables that she hawked
for a livelihood before the door of the great mansion where her son
resided; but, instead of advertising her wares, as is customary in these
Muscovite markets, by some picture of a saint or some holy inscription,
she carried a little placard, with the inscription, 'The Mother of
Alexovitch,' the name of the Governor. A crowd soon gathered around this
singular booth, heralded by so strange an announcement, and as speedily
the police resorted to the spot, and carried the offender before the
judge. The defence was the simple one that she had merely averred the
truth. I need not weary you with the mockery of investigation that
followed; the result is all I need tell. This woman was knouted and sent
away to Siberia. So much for the Governor. As for the governed, they
were enthusiastic in praise of his justice and clemency; for he might
have ordered her to be beheaded."

"Do