By this time the grand air had taken flight, and the officer, so pompous a moment before, looked as if the steady gaze and the quiet voice of the traveller had reduced him to the last stage of fear.—“Once more, my good major,” said Alexander.—“His Imperial Majesty?” exclaimed the man, in surprise and terror, letting his pipe drop from his trembling fingers.—“His very self,” answered the Emperor; and he smiled at the wonderful change in the major’s face and manner.
“Ah, Sire, pardon me!” cried the officer, falling on his knees,—“pardon me!”—“And what is there to pardon?” said Alexander, with real, simple dignity. “My friend, you have done me no harm. I asked you which road I should take, and you told me. Thanks!”
But the major never forgot the lesson. If, in later years, he was tempted to be rude or haughty to his so-called inferiors, there rose at once in his mind a picture of a well-remembered scene, in which his pride of power had brought such shame upon him. Two soldiers in a quiet country-town made but an every-day picture, after all; but what a difference there had been between the pompous manner of the petty officer and the natural, courteous dignity of the Emperor of all the Russias!
Word Exercise.
- haughty (haw´te)
- Maj´es-ty
- Colonel (kur´nel)
- Lieu-ten´ant (lĕu-ten´ant)
- Ka-lou´ga (kă-loo´gă)
- Em´per-or
- Im-pe´ri-al
- Ex´cel-len-cy
Phrase Exercise.
1. Habited in a plain military coat.—2. Air of dignity.—3. Speak with familiarity.—4. Answered shortly.—5. Haughty reply.—6. Lofty response.—7. Steady gaze.—8. Exclaimed in surprise.—9. Simple dignity.—10. Pompous manner.—11. Petty officer.—12. Natural dignity.