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Updated: June 10, 2025
Swords were returned to scabbards, harsh voices grew quieter, and within a quarter of an hour the Red Staircase and the great hall were empty of men. Then the door of the room from which the two boys had come opened, and Natalia and her women stepped out. The Czarina, a woman of courage herself, took Peter in her arms. "My brave son," she murmured, "thou art worthy of thy father.
The two windows on the right were curtained over, and close to them was seated, Natalia Savishna, spectacles on nose and engaged in darning stockings. She did not approach us to kiss me as she had been used to do, but just rose and looked at us, her tears beginning to flow afresh. Somehow it frightened me to see every one, on beholding us, begin to cry, although they had been calm enough before.
"That's right. That's right. I haven't obtained your full confidence as yet, Natalia Victorovna, but that will come. All in good time. The sister of Viktor Haldin cannot be without importance.... It's simply impossible. And no woman can remain sitting on the steps. Flowers, tears, applause that has had its time; it's a mediaeval conception. The arena, the arena itself is the place for women!"
The very thought of this poor Natalia, or Dona Nata as she was called, long dead and turned to dust in that far pampa, troubles my spirit even now and gives me the uncomfortable feeling that in putting her portrait on this paper I am doing a mean thing.
Thus only Grandmamma, the Prince, and myself were left in the drawing-room. "Why has our dear Natalia Nicolaevna not come to-day" asked the Prince after a silence. "Ah, my friend," replied Grandmamma, lowering her voice and laying a hand upon the sleeve of his uniform, "she would certainly have come if she had been at liberty to do what she likes.
Others they threw down from the wall of the imperial palace upon the soldiers' pikes below, which the men held up for the purpose of receiving them. Peter was at this time with his mother in the palace. Natalia was exceedingly alarmed, not for herself, but for her son.
"... The most trustful eyes in the world your brother said of you when he was as well as a dead man already. And when you stood before me with your hand extended, I remembered the very sound of his voice, and I looked into your eyes and that was enough. I knew that something had happened, but I did not know then what.... But don't be deceived, Natalia Victorovna.
She sank back upon the pillows, tore the bedclothes with her teeth, and wept wept " "Yes and what then?" I asked but Natalia Savishna could say no more. She turned away and cried bitterly. Mamma had expired in terrible agonies.
Natalia Ivanovna grew red and hot at the thought which suddenly came into her head. "Could not the death sentence be commuted now?" "How so, since the judges have passed it? The Czar alone has the right of amnesty." "But how would he know?" "They have the right of appealing to him." "But it is on my account they are to die," said that stupid woman, Natalia Ivanovna. "And I forgive them."
"To whom shall I give the list of the children's linen?" asked Natalia Savishna of Mamma as she entered the room with a paper in her hand and her eyes red with weeping. "Give it to Nicola, and then return to say good-bye to them," replied Mamma. The old woman seemed about to say something more, but suddenly stopped short, covered her face with her handkerchief, and left the room.
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