On their faces was a quiet and solemn look.

Princess Mary sat alone in her room listening to the sounds in the house, now and then opening her door when someone passed and watching what was going on in the passage.

Some women passing with quiet steps in and out of the bedroom glanced at the princess and turned away.

She did not venture to ask any questions, and shut the door again, now sitting down in her easy chair, now taking her prayer book, now kneeling before the icon stand.

To her surprise and distress she found that her prayers did not calm her excitement.