My indebtedness to these friends is deep and lasting. First of all must be mentioned the late Mrs. Helen Kohlsaat Wells, a close friend and confidante for many, many years. She worked with me closely during the years 1930 to 1934 during which we completed the first complete draft of the manuscript. Many years later we worked intermittently on revising the manuscript until Mrs. Wells’ untimely death. Also in a separate category is the late Mr. John Adams Chapman, whose friendship and counsel were so valuable at all times. Deserving of special gratitude are Mrs. Marjorie Wilder Emery, Miss Edith Kohlsaat, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Hanson, Mrs. John Adams Chapman, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Ellsworth Laflin, Jr., and Mr. and Mrs. Francis Beidler II. Table of Contents List of Illustrations xi Author’s Preface xiii PART ONE THE YOUTHFUL YEARS 1 Chapter I Earliest Memories 3 Chapter II School Days 15 Chapter III Cruises 25 Chapter IV The Crimea 40 Chapter V Spala: 1912 53 Chapter VI Jubilee: 1913 66 PART TWO THE FIRST WORLD WAR 73 Chapter VII Eve of the War: 1914 75 Chapter VIII No Choice But War 83 Chapter IX Family Heartaches 95 Chapter X Mogilev 113 Chapter XI Our Last Autumn in Tsarskoe Selo 126 Chapter XII Revolution 140 Chapter XIII Abdication 152 PART THREE ARREST AND EXILE 171 Chapter XIV Arrest 173 Chapter XV Subjugation 182 Chapter XVI Departure 193 Chapter XVII Journey 203 PART FOUR TOBOLSK 209 Chapter XVIII Orientation 211 Chapter XIX Winter 226 Chapter XX Danger 236 Chapter XXI Separation 248 PART FIVE EKATERINBURG 263 Chapter XXII Reunion 265 Chapter XXIII Deprivation and Courage 278 Chapter XXIV The Nights Are Long 286 Chapter XXV Accusation 291 Chapter XXVI Fear and Dread 297 Chapter XXVII Our Final Decision 303 Chapter XXVIII Dawn Turns to Dusk 314 PART SIX AFTER THE TRAGEDY 321