Meeting of the Czar and Czarevna

1878

The Czarevna of Russia had not seen the Czarewitch, her husband, for eight months when she surprised him lately by meeting him unexpectedly at Dunaburg.

She arrives first — a bright young lady, resembling her sister, the Princess of Wales, but looking rather stronger. An onlooker gives an animated description of the scene: Though courteous to all, the Czarevna is evidently nervously impatient for the arrival of her husband.

She has not much longer to wait; all at once the shouting outside begins, her face becomes radiant, and, wrapping herself in the magnificent rotonde of blue fox fur, she hurries to the platform, amid renewed hurrahs and clamorous cries of joy. Her eyes are eagerly fixed on the two red globes of the approaching engine — there is a shrill whistle, much puffing of steam and the train rolls slowly into the station.

The Czarewitch, little guessing the surprise in store for him, descends saluting as he passes the long file of soldiers drawn up on the platform. Suddenly he sees her; then all else is forgotten — the station, the soldiers, the crowd of people — and the wife is in her husband's arms, held in a long embrace. Then, like a roar of thunder, louder than the last, burst forth deafening shouts, mixing up with the national hymn.