“It isn’t as bad as that, of course,” said Boris, with a laugh.  “Russia isn’t like other countries, but we’re not such barbarians as some people try to make out.  Still, of course, there are a lot of things that ought to be changed.  Russia has been apart from the rest of the world because she’s so big and independent.  That’s why there are two parties, the conservatives and the liberals.  My father is all for the Czar, but he wants the Czar to govern through the men the people elect to the Duma.  After this war—­well, we shall see!  There will be many changes, I think.  You see, this time it is all Russia that fights.  Against Japan we were not united.  It is the Russian people who have made this war.”

“I only knew there was danger of war the night it began,” said Fred.  “I suppose it is on account of Servia, though?”

“Yes.  That started it.  They are Slavs, like ourselves.  It is as it was when we fought Turkey nearly forty years ago.  The Turks were murdering Slavs in the Balkans, and all our people called on the Czar to fight.  This time we could not let Austria bully a nation that is almost like a little brother to Russia.”

“I can understand that,” said Fred.  “I suppose there’s enough of the Slav in me, from my mother, to make me feel like that, too.”

“Even after the way Mikail treated you?  Tell me about that.  Why did he behave so, though I suppose you may not know?”

“I don’t, really.  My father is dead, you know.  I and my mother are alone.  She has always loved Russia, though she calls herself an American, and is one, and has always made me understand that I am an American, before all.  But she has taught me to love Russia, too.  And she has always told me that there were estates in Russia that belonged to her, and would belong to me.  She and my father were angry and hurt because of the way her family treated them, but she said that some time she wanted me to take possession of the estate, and to live for a little time each year in Russia.  She said that the peasants on the place would be better off if I did that.”

“Yes,” Boris nodded.  “That is what those who criticise us do not always remember.  Russian nobles do look after their peasants.  The peasants in Russia have not had the advantages of the poor in other countries.  They are like children still.  My father is a father to all the people on our estate.  When they are sick, he sees that they are cared for.  If there are bad crops, he gives them food and money.  We must all do such things.”

“That’s what she told me.  Well, she wrote letters and she could get no answers.  So she decided to come herself.  But she was taken ill.  Not seriously, but ill enough so that the doctor did not want her to travel.  And that was why I came.  I went to my uncle, because he was in charge of her affairs.  And then, though he was kind enough when I first saw him, and promised to help me, I was arrested.  All my papers were