AN ABSURD SPECTACLE. 211 



order, she said, that I might prove to every 

 one in Russia that Nomahanna was able to 

 write. 



Our conversation was interrupted by the rat- 

 tling of wheels, and the sound of many voices. 

 I looked from the window, and saw a little cart 

 to which a number of active young men had har- 

 nessed themselves with the greatest complacency. 

 I inquired of Marini what this meant, and was 

 informed that the Queen was about to drive to 

 church : an attendant soon after entered, and 

 announced that the equipage was ready. Noma- 

 hanna graciously proposed my accompanying 

 her ; and rather than risk her displeasure by a 

 refusal, I accepted the invitation with many 

 thanks, though I foresaw that I should thus be 

 drawn in as a party to a very absurd spectacle. 

 The Queen now put on a white calico hat 

 decorated with Chinese flowers, took a large 

 Chinese fan in her hand, and, having completed 

 her toilette by drawing on a pair of clumsy 

 sailor's boots, we set out. In descending the 

 stairs, she made a sign that the school was 

 over for the present ; an announcement that 

 seemed very agreeable to the scholars, to the 



