rushed forward and knelt at his feet. Helena, clasping her
fairest hands, sank beside her husband, with upturned face, as if
seeking the old man's eyes, and perfect the miracle she had
wrought.

The sight of that sweet face, so near his own, tamed the last
lurking ferocity of the beast. His tears burst forth in a shower;
he lifted and embraced the Princess, kissing her brow, her cheeks,
her chin, and her hands, calling her his darling daughter, his
little white dove, his lambkin.

"And, father, my Boris, too!" said she.

The pure liquid voice sent thrills of exquisite delight through his
whole frame. He embraced and blessed Boris, and then, throwing an
arm around each, held them to his breast, and wept passionately
upon their heads. By this time the whole castle overflowed with
weeping. Tears fell from every window and gallery; they hissed
upon the hot saucepans of the cooks; they moistened the oats in the
manger; they took the starch out of the ladies' ruffles, and
weakened the wine in the goblets of the guests. Insult was changed
into tenderness in a moment. Those who had barked or stuck out
their tongues at Boris rushed up to kiss his boots; a thousand
terms of endearment were showered upon him.

Still clasping his children to his breast, Prince Alexis mounted
the steps with them. At the top he turned, cleared his throat,
husky from sobbing, and shouted--

"A feast! a feast for all Kinesma! Let there be rivers of vodki,