"The usual soup for the fast."
"Just oblige me, my good Helenka. I have brought something with me which will do our invalid good. I have had it over expressly from a celebrated physician in England. Give her a spoonful of it daily in her soup."
"Of course I will do what you command, sire. But tell me first, is it prepared from the flesh of any animal? For if the dear soul were to find out that I had mixed any meat preparation in her soup during the fast, she would cry and rage to that extent that she would make herself ill again."
"Do not be afraid, good Helenka. It is a remedy composed of palm-root, which takes the place of meat."
"And I shall not endanger my own soul by using it?"
"No, no; have no fear. I will take all responsibility upon myself."
And yet were it an unpardonable sin to eat meat during Quadragesima the Czar had laid a great burden upon his soul, for his remedy was no other than extract of beef, at that time the patent of an English chemist. But the Czar was a philosopher and—a father.
"Go in and tell her I am here, that she may not be startled at my coming."
By a lamp, whose light was tempered by a lace shade, sat two young girls playing draughts.
The one we have already seen at the noteworthy stag-hunt; and now we know her to be a "king's daughter."