In her ears a ringing silence, as if a great steel disk had clattered down into the depths of her consciousness. There on her knees, trembling seized her, and she hugged herself against it, leaning forward to corroborate her gaze.
most rigid autocracy in the world
overthrown
RUSSIA REJOICES
"Mamma! Mamma! My God, Mamma!"
"Home, Shila; home! My husband who died for it—Aylorff! Home now, quick! My wreaths! My wreaths!"
"O my God, Mamma!"
"Home!"
"Yes—darling—yes—"
"My wreaths!"
"Yes, yes, darling; your wreaths. Let—let me think. Freedom!—O my God, help me to find a way! O my God!"