The crowd had drawn away from the sledge now, leaving Peter lying in the dirty snow. Such a sight to make of himself, he thought, in view of Katerin! And how angry she would be to see that he had gotten in the way of the officer and had made him fall down like a clumsy bear.
Peter heard the voice of his father calling to him.
“Little son! Get up quickly and run! The Governor comes! Do not let the Excellence see you there!”
But Peter could not move quickly for his arms and legs seemed strangely stiff and numb and helpless. His father ran out into the open space just as Governor Kirsakoff got out of his carriage to hasten to his little daughter in the sledge. He was a tall man, ruddy of face, with white teeth showing in a smile under black mustaches. He wore a high cap of sable with a badge of the Czar upon it. His longskirted coat of black was lined with fur which stuck out in fringes at the edges, and he wore a belt with silver doubleheaded eagles at the buckle. A scarlet strap depended from one shoulder and crossed his breast, and he wore a saber at his side—a saber with a gold hilt, bearing upon it the initials of his Emperor.
Governor Kirsakoff held out his arms toward his daughter as he approached the sledge. The officer who struck Peter was beside the Governor, with watchful eyes for the safety of his chief and the little girl.
Peter’s father lifted him to his feet, and Peter brushed the icy film from his eyes.
“Get away, you and that boy!” the officer growled as the Governor strode swiftly to the sledge.
“The boy meant no harm, Excellence,” said Peter’s father, pulling off his cap and making a deep bow, as he tried to push Peter on before him.
“Who is this here?” demanded the Governor, catching sight of Peter and his father, and seeing that the boy’s face was bleeding. Governor Kirsakoff’s smile vanished, and he scowled angrily, sensing something in the nature of a calamity in the presence of his daughter.
“Excellence, this boy yelled at Katerin Stephanovna,” explained the officer. “And he tripped my feet when I came down from the sledge.”