at that time the family were in very brilliant society and had large estates:  alas! the estates were soon all lost in politics, and all that remained to the family was their name and some tales of what they had done.  Well, this young lady, among all her friends, had one or two sweethearts, as was natural—­for there were a great coming and going then, before the troubles broke out, and many visitors at the house—­only every one thought she ought to marry her cousin Konrad, for they had been brought up together, and this cousin Konrad was a good-looking young man, and amiable, and her parents would have approved.  Are you sure you are listening to my story, Natalushka?”

“Oh yes, mother,” she said, in a low voice; “I think I understand.”

“Well,” continued the mother, with rather a sad smile, “you know a girl does not always choose the one whom her friends choose for her.  Among the two or three sweethearts—­that is, those who wished to be sweethearts, do you understand, Natalushka?—­there was one who was more audacious, perhaps, more persistent than the others; and then he was a man of great ambition, and of strong political views; and the young lady I was telling you about, Natalushka, had been brought up to the political atmosphere, and had opinions also.  She believed this man was capable of doing great things; and her friends not objecting, she, after a few years of waiting, owing to the troubles of political matters, married him.”

She was silent for a moment or two.

“Yes, they were married,” she continued, with a sigh, “and for a time every thing was happy, though the political affairs were so untoward, and cost much suffering and danger.  The young wife only admired her husband’s determined will, his audacity, his ambition after leadership and power.  But in the midst of all this, as time went on, he began to grow jealous of the cousin Konrad; and Konrad, though he was a light-hearted young fellow, and meaning no harm whatever, resented being forbidden to see his cousin.  He refused to cease visiting the house, though the young wife begged him to do so.  He was very proud and self-willed, you must know, Natalushka.  Well, the husband did not say much, but he was morose, and once or twice he said to his wife, ’It is not your fault that your cousin is impertinent; but let him take care.’  Then one day an old friend of his wife’s father came to her, and said, ’Do you know what has happened?  You are not likely to see your cousin Konrad again.  The Russian General ——­, whom we bribed with twenty-four thousand rubles to give us ten passports for crossing the frontier, now refuses to give them, and Konrad has been sent to kill him, as a warning to the others; he will be taken, and hanged.’  I forgot to tell you, Natalushka, that the girl I am speaking of was in all the secrets of the association which had been started.  You are more fortunate; you know nothing.”

The interest of the listener had now been thoroughly aroused.  She had turned toward her mother, and had put her remaining hand over hers.