Page:Elizabeth, or, The exiles of Siberia (2).pdf/22

22 off on the road to Moscow, which she found crowded with people, in carriages, sledges, and on foot. Meanwhile the ringing of bells was heard, and on every side the name of the Emperor sounded in the cars of Elizabeth. On enquiring the cause of all this, she was informed, it was on account of the Emperor's entry into Moscow, where he is to be crowned. Elizabeth now felt overjoyed, while she thought the time was near when she hoped to obtain from the Emperor her father's pardon. Elizabeth entered the immense capital of Muscovy in March, 1801, believing herself at the end of all her troubles, and not imagining that she could encounter fresh calamities. As she proceeded along the city, she rested for a moment in the great walk. The people walking there talked much of the coronation. The tumult was great towards the Kremlin, where large fires were lighted-Elizabeth approached one of them, and sat down timidly by the side of it. Exhausted with cold and fatigue, the joy which filled her heart in the morning was turned to melancholy, for, in traversing the streets, she could no where find an asylum. She knocked at the doors of some of the meaner habitations, and was every where repulsed. The hope of making considerable gain, during the festival, had steeled the heart of the pettiest innkeeper of the place. She consequently returned to the fire in the Kremlin. She wept in silence, and had not strength to eat a bit of bread given her by an old woman.

The crowd began to diminish, and the fires to decay; when the guard of the palace-gates came to her, asking her why she remained there. The maiden said she had come from Tobolsk, to solicit from the emperor her father's pardon, and had performed the journey on foot, and, being without money, no person would receive her. The soldiers accused her of falsehood, and the girl being alarmed, wished to escape, but the soldiers held her. Many people coming up, expressed their disapprobation of the severity of the soldiers, while Elizabeth swore by the name of heaven that she had told the truth, and begged they would save her till she had accomplished her errand. Her appeal reached every heart, and a lodging was offered by an innkeeper, who was touched with pity for her. The soldiers offering no further opposition, she followed him to his house, where she was most kindly treated. The landlord offered to assist her in the accomplishment of her purpose on the following day, when the Emperor would be crowned in the church of Assumption. In the morning, discharges of artillery, beating of drums, and shouts of joy announced the commencement of the day's festivity. Elizabeth, dressed in clothes her hostess had lent her, and leaning on the arm of honest Rossi (her host) proceeded till they entered the church where Alexander was to be crowned. Seated on a brilliant throne, surmounted with a rich canopy, were seen