by Mór Jókai
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE WEDDING PRESENT
As Alexander had said, so it was. His health was in close sympathy withthat of his daughter. With the return of color to her cheeks his spiritsrevived. Once more he busied himself with affairs of state. In his studywere whole piles of unsigned papers from various departments and ofletters through the "St. Sophie" post-box. He set to work upon them, andthe mountain of papers was soon hugely diminished. The Sophien-post wasa singular institution of Alexander's. In Czarskoje Zelo was an officewhere any one might give in letters to be delivered direct to the Czar.The official demanded ten rubles a letter, but asked no questions eitheras to the writer or its contents, whether of complaint, petition,accusation, calumniation of those in office, or favorable mention, orschemes for a new constitution of the empire. One hour later it was inthe Czar's hands were he in St. Petersburg, or was sent after him if hewere travelling.
The surest sign of his improvement in health and spirits was that heceased to tear through the streets at night, and supped on the firstholiday evening with the Czarina, having decided to communicate thehappy tidings to her. Elisabeth was the first to hear it. The Patriarchhimself had only been informed that on the 21st of June he was to be atthe late Czar Peter's residence on Petrowsky Island, where he would finda young couple waiting to be married.
Meanwhile, every petition addressed to the Czar's clemency was beinggranted. Exiles were allowed to come home, political prisoners releasedfrom prison.
It was not in vain that Pushkin had sacrificed his love. His tendernesscharmed back to Sophie's lips the smile of happiness which is sodelusively like that of health. And that smile charmed a bright,cloudless sky over the whole empire. When he came, punctual to theminute, with his bouquets of flowers, and, with some pretty complimentabout the improved looks of the girl hurrying to meet him, would sitdown beside her and begin telling her the news, Pushkin was making thehappiness of an empire. Or did he ask about her last night's dreams andtell their meaning; or play cards with her, letting her win and himselfbe laughed at; or read poems and romances to her; bring her the firsthothouse fruit or delicate bonbons; watch her somewhat inartisticattempts at drawing and painting, oft stealing a kiss the while, andgetting his hair pulled for it--then a whole empire was in sunshine!
This even the unfortunates on the far-off Baikal Lake, who break stonesin Bleiberg mines, experienced; for every kiss pressed on Sophie's browthe fetters on a pair of hands were loosed.
The Czar, who purposely came to her late, after Pushkin had gone, alwaysfound her luxuriating in bliss. Her talk would be all of Pushkin, and ofall he had told her.
Sometimes they talked about politics. Sophie induced Pushkin to confesswhat was the exact object of the secret society she had heard about.And, like an engaged man should, Pushkin candidly told her that whatthey wanted was a parliamentary constitution; that among them there wasmany a man who could speak as well as the members of the English Houseof Commons, and who ought to have the right to be heard. The governmentwould then find a majority composed of Tartars, Kirghis, Kalmucks,Jakutes, Bashkir, and Finnish deputies, who would outvote the Russianrevolutionists, and the country would be tranquillized. That parliamentshould have the control of the exchequer, so that in the case of aminister peculating he might be sent about his business, and, at least,give others the chance to do the same. Freedom of the press was alsonecessary, so that they might go to loggerheads among themselves insteadof growling in an undertone. That was what they hoped to arrive at. TheCzar was infinitely amused when he heard of it all, taking it verydifferently from what he did when Araktseieff told him the same things.
People began to think that the good times were coming back. Some tenyears ago they had ventured to talk of constitutional liberty inpresence of the Czar, and the meetings of free masonic lodges wereopenly announced in the daily papers.
The improvement in Sophie's health deceived even the doctors; the badsymptoms had entirely disappeared. Miracles do happen sometimes! Thepower of nature is inexhaustible! Preparations for the wedding began inearnest. The Czar had the bride's trousseau, including the pink-silkgown and platinum diadem, sent from Paris, and had the satisfaction ofrevelling in Sophie's radiant face on seeing all the lovely things.
One day the Czar said to Pushkin:
"My son, if God permits us to live to that happy day, which will also bea turning-point in my life, what shall I give you for a weddingpresent?"
And Pushkin, falling on his knees, said:
"Father, on that day give your subjects a constitution."
The Czar was silent. This gave Pushkin courage to continue.
"Your Majesty, the whole world is in a state of ferment, and preparingfor eruption, like Vesuvius. The volcanic eruption can be avoided by aroll of paper inscribed with the single word 'Charta'! Not I alone, butyour whole country, every honest man, every patriot, every one about thethrone, thinks and says the same. Do not grant us immediate freedom, donot remodel our country on foreign lines; but lead your peoplegradually, step by step, towards freedom; suffer the constitution to beshaped according to the habits and needs of your people. But do awaywith serfdom! Banish Araktseieff, who stands like an evil genius betweenyou and the people. Take the education of the masses out of the hands ofthe Sacred Synod, and restore it to Galitzin. Call the notables of theland to your throne-room, and command them to speak out candidly to you.Do away with the censorship, and grant permission to every man topublish his thoughts to the light of day; dismiss the dishoneststewards, who are robbing you and the country. Annul the militarycolonies, which are a very pest of oppression in the land; summon theold regiments, give them back their standards, unite them in a camp, putus at their head, and send us to the rescue of our Greek brothers inarms, who are drowning in a sea of their own blood. You will see what anation is capable of when, in possession of freedom herself, she isfighting for the independence of other nations--how she would rise aboveall others! Oh, give us freedom, and we will give you glory!"
The Czar listened to the end, then said:
"Rise! I forgive you your audacious words!"
* * * * *
Some day later Araktseieff set off, very quietly, for his countryestate, Grusino. It was whispered that, at his own request, he had beengranted a long leave of absence. His departure was emphasized the moreby Prince Ghedimin being chosen as his successor. He was now among theconfidential _entourage_ of the Czar, who might approach him, at anyhour, without being announced.
More still took place. Magriczki, the most detested member of theCouncil of Enlightenment, was dismissed, and younger censors wereappointed instead of the old ones. It was also known that the RussianAmbassador at the Porte had received instructions to energeticallypromote a more humane system of warfare against the Greeks in their Warof Independence. It was also decided to form a camp instantly in thevicinity of Bender.
Finally--clear sign of a new epoch--all the regiments of the guards wererecalled from the military colonies and concentrated in St. Petersburg.
These events filled the apostles of freedom with new hopes. The SecretSociety of the North decided, on these lines, to support the Czar by allthe means in their power, although the leaders of that society were notmisled. Pestel sent word to Ghedimin: "It is all a comedy! They want tomake fools of us; the whole business will only last three months. Ishall stick to my plan!" But the Bear's Paw by degrees lost all itsassociates, and the sole use Jakuskin found for his knife at that timewas to pick his teeth with.
Pushkin, meanwhile, devoted himself completely to his duties asbridegroom and to versifying. He wrote a charming poem under the titleof _The Spring of Baktshisseraj_, which he read aloud first to Sophie.And the milder censorship made its publication easy.
When the Czar was informed that the poem had been submitted to theCensor--of course such an event had to be notified to the Czar--he saidto Pushkin:
"I advise you to dedicate your poem to a certain lady."
"To my betrothed?"
"No. To the Princess Ghedimin."
Pushkin understood the hint. It was desirable in some manner to paycourt to Sophie's mother. This was the most natural way.
The Czar added:
"When you take her your poem, tell her that on the 21st of June you willcelebrate your marriage with Sophie Narishkin."
That, too, was quite _en regle_. Pushkin needed no explanation. Thebridegroom-elect must himself take Korynthia the tidings of SophieNarishkin's approaching marriage, and receive from her the kiss ofconsent. The wooing and consent would be expressed in the form of thededication of the poem and its acceptance. The form was delicate, yetexpressive. Both think differently and speak differently; it was awooing under poetical guise.
Pushkin was quite up to the proprieties in first seeking out PrinceGhedimin.
"Ivan Maximovitch, I have written a new poem, which I should greatlylike to dedicate to the Princess Maria Alexievna Korynthia. May I begyou to read it, and if you deem it worthy of the honor of bearing thePrincess's name to be my advocate with her?"
"I will read your verses with pleasure, and may venture to tell youbeforehand that the Princess will esteem your dedication as a greatdistinction, and will be proud to read her name in print on any work ofyours."
And Pushkin, that same day, received a note from the Prince telling himthat the Princess would receive him the next day at seven o'clock in hersummer palace on Neva Island.
The great heat prevented people going out earlier. The St. Petersburgworld of fashion had already repaired to their villas. Even the richburgher lived in Neva Island on his "dotcha." The Czar had accompaniedElisabeth and her court to her favorite castle "Monplaisir," in thevicinity of which was Sophie's dwelling.
The Czar could now visit her very seldom, for in June the nights are notdark in St. Petersburg. But she had her lover to keep watch over her.
But one short week separated them from the wedding.