The music that throbbed and swelled and found an utterance--imperfect, indeed, but genuine--in the Holy Alliance, has not quite died away amidst the laughter of fools, and the clamorous, discordant voices of selfish politicians. “We shall hear it by-and-by,” when a harmony serene and perfect--like that of the morning stars that sang together--shall usher in the reign of peace and righteousness for which the weary waiting earth has so long been yearning. For “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” “The kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” “In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.” “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” CHAPTER XXXVII. AT NICOLOFSKY. “Do noble things, not dream them, all day long; So making death, life, and that vast for ever, One grand sweet song.” “Yes, the first snow of winter is falling. Does my Clémence regret exchanging the flowers of France for the snows of Russia?” “_Do I?_” she asked, looking confidingly into Ivan’s face while she leaned on his arm. They were standing at a window in the old castle of Nicolofsky, watching the white flakes as they fell gently to the ground. It was night, but a full moon shed its soft, pure radiance, over the peaceful scene. “Our first night at home, Ivan,” she continued. “I shall love this place. I am so glad we came here at once.” “And I am so glad to hear you say so. I have often felt, Clémence, that it was too generous, too unselfish of you and your mother to agree in counselling me to decline the Emperor’s offer of a post in the Army of Occupation, which would have kept us together in France, perhaps for years.” “You know, Ivan, that you are needed here.” “I know it. I must get rid of Dmitri at once; and my only way of doing so is by being my own steward. I fear he has used my poor friends here very hardly. Yet, according to his light, he has been faithful; and after Zoubof’s letter, pleading his cause so earnestly, I could not well set him aside for another. It is true I neither respect Zoubof nor like him,--though he has behaved very courteously to me, being evidently well satisfied with whatever arrangements the Emperor made with him about the estate.” “If you are your own steward, Ivan, will you not have to remain here all the year?” “Not _quite_, m’amie,” Ivan answered smiling. “That would be too great a sacrifice. For this winter, indeed, I purpose keeping my princess a captive in fetters of frost and snow; and perhaps next summer we may content ourselves with a visit to Moscow, our martyr city, of which it is indeed true that we think upon her stones. But, if God will, the following winter must be spent in St. Petersburg.”