They wore long beards, and were clad in a strange fashion, with furs and other outlandish ornaments; and as they were inhabitants of a half-civilized country, they did not behave like other people.

The Chancellor Oxenstiern was afraid that the young queen would burst out a laughing at the first sight of these queer ambassadors, or else that she would be frightened by their unusual aspect.
"Why should I be frightened ?" said the little queen.

"And do you suppose that I have no better manners than to laugh?
Only tell me how I must behave, and I will do it." Accordingly, the Muscovite ambassadors were introduced; and Christina received them and answered their speeches with as much dignity and propriety as if sho had been a grown woman.
All this time, though Christina was now a queen, you must not suppose that she was left to act as she pleased.

She had a preceptor, named John Mathias, who was a very learned man and capable of instructing her in all the branches of science.

But there was nobody to teach her the delicate graces and gentle virtues of a woman.