Page:The Tsar's Window.djvu/155

 was crimson velvet, lined with ermine. She wore a tiara of rubies and diamonds, an old point-lace veil, two strings of enormous diamonds on her neck, and such a lustrous diamond stomacher that I could hardly look at her, for the flash and glitter of the jewels. Her train—very heavy and several yards long—was borne on the shoulders of four chamberlains, and a still greater personage walked behind her and carried the tail end of it. The bridegroom is pale and looks delicate.

I could cover pages with descriptions of cloth-of-gold and silver and velvet dresses, and gorgeous jewels, but I never could do justice to the scene. After the bridal party had taken their places at the altar, the ladies of the court entered, and the chapel soon became uncomfortably warm.

Mr. Cheremenieff was stationed at the other end of the room, but as his head towered above all the others I was disagreeably conscious that his eyes were fixed on me most of the time.

"How restless you are!" whispered Judith; "and oh, look at your young friend! How he gazes at you!"

"Don't notice him," I said nervously.

"I wonder where George is," she continued, craning her neck, and looking about in a very irreverent manner.

Alice overheard her, and put her mind at rest by saying, "Here he is, behind me."

Meanwhile there was a great deal of chanting and moving about, none of which I understood. The room grew warmer and closer, and Mr. Cheremenieff's eyes