Kiss you most tenderly. Thanks for congratulations. ALEXEI. Added by Grand Duchess Olga: I also kiss you most tenderly and thank you Lili my heart, for post card, and little ikon. God preserve you. OLGA. Added by the Empress: Thank you for your dear letters--we understand each other. It is hard to be separated. Greetings to R. Gor. ✠ I have learnt only now how you spent the first days (in prison). It is terrible, but God will reward. Am pleased that your husband has written. _29th November, 1917._ TOBOLSK. MY DEAREST, I am for such a very, very long time without news of you, and I feel sad. Have you received my post card of the 28th October? [Illustration: CHRISTMAS CARD DRAWN SPECIALLY FOR ME BY HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY WHILE AT TOBOLSK.] Everybody is well--my heart is not up to much, fit at times, but on the whole it is better. I live very quietly and seldom go out as it is too difficult to breathe in frozen air. Lessons as usual. (News from Petrograd) “T” is as always. Zina has been to see her and O. V., who is very sad, she is always praying. Father Makari passed on on the 19th July. Rumours have it that Gariainoff has married, but we do not know whether it is true. (Speaking of herself the Empress writes) Aunt Baby drew this herself. How is Titi?--Granny--I want to know such, such a lot. How is Count Keller? Have you seen him in Kharkoff? The present events are so awful for words, shameful and almost funny, but God is merciful, darling. Soon we shall be thinking of those days you passed with us. My God, what remembrances! Matresha has married, they are now all in P., but the brother is at the front. I read a lot, embroider and draw (I have to do it all with my spectacles, am so old). I think of you often and always pray fervently for you and love you tenderly. I kiss you very, very much. May Christ protect you. Your countryman is at Vladivostok and Nicholas Jakovlevitch (one of the wounded) is, I think, also in Siberia. I am so lonely without you all. Where is your husband and his friends? We are still expecting Ysa and the others. I kiss Titi tenderly. Write, I am waiting so. Verveine (toilet water) always reminds me of you. _2/15 March, 1918._ TOBOLSK. MY OWN DEAR DARLING,