Do not worry about us, darling, dearly beloved one. For you all it is hard and especially for our Country!!! This hurts more than anything else--and the heart is racked with pain--what has been done in one year! God has allowed it to happen--therefore it must be necessary so that they might understand, that eyes might be opened to lies and deceits. I cannot read the newspapers quietly, those senseless telegrams--and with the German at the door!!! K. and everyone else looks at “brother” as a saviour--Great God, to what have they come to, to wait for the enemy to come and rid them from the infernal foe. And who is sent as the leader? Aunt Baby’s brother (meaning herself). Do you understand. They wished to act nicely, probably thinking that it would be less painful and humiliating to her--but for her (meaning herself) it is far worse--such an unbearable pain--but everything generally hurts now--all one’s feelings have been trampled underfoot--but so it has to be, the soul must grow and rise above all else; that which is most dear and tender in us has been wounded--is it not true? So we too have to understand through it all that God is greater than everything and that He wants to draw us, through our sufferings, closer to Him. Love Him more and better than one and all. But my country--my God--how I love it, with all the power of my being, and her sufferings give me actual physical pain. And who makes her (Russia) suffer, who causes blood to flow?... her own sons. My God, what a ghastly horror it all is. And who is the enemy? This cruel German, and the worst thing for Aunt Baby is that he (the enemy) is taking away everything as in the time of Tsar Alexsei Michailovich (meaning that frontiers of Russia would become again as during the reign of A. M.). But I am convinced that it will not remain so, help will come from Above, people can no longer do anything, but with God all things are possible, and He will show His strength, wisdom and all forgiveness and love--only believe, wait and pray. This letter will, in all probability, reach you on the day of our parting (one year ago), it seems so near and yet again as if centuries had passed since then. It is seven months that we have been here. We see Ysa[17] only through the windows, and Madeleine (the Empress’s lady’s-maid, Madeleine Zanotti) too. They have been here for three or four months to-day, I am told. I must give that letter at once. I kiss you and Titi tenderly, Christ be with you, my dearest ones. Greeting to Mother and Grandmother. The children kiss and love you, and he (the Emperor) sends his very best wishes. YOUR OLD GODMOTHER. * * * * * L’ENVOI