"We played in secluded corners of the large, dusty garden, its bushes all in flower. Two neat ladies, dressed all in black, would often come and watch us dig in the sand-heap. Dead crows seemed to be laid out on their plate-like black hats, claws and feathers spiking the air. They were the Empress, who had a crumpled face, and bright, kind eyes, and her lady-in-waiting, who hardly seemed to be there at all - like a shadow.
Our Nannie, Miss Menzies (Miss Thompson was no longer with us), and Irina's governess, Miss Scott, stood us up, dusted us down, and subsided in deep curtsies, hastily whispering how good we had to be. Patting us on the head, the Empress gave us large lumpy sweets in tasselled paper, like small crackers. She spoke to us very kindly in an abrupt and husky voice. We were not shy at all and liked her".