As I pointed out before, Erminia is a character in Torquato
Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered. She is hopelessly in love with
Tancred. But Erminia was also a nickname of E. M. Khitrovo, Kutuzov's daughter
who was hopelessly in love with Pushkin. In a letter of May 9, 1834, to O. S.
Pavlishchev (Pushkin's sister) the poet's mother mentions Erminia: Александр очень занят по утрам, потом он идёт в
(Летний) сад, где прогуливается со своей Эрминией. (Alexander is very
busy in the mornings, then he goes to the Letniy Sad where he walks with his
Erminia. Veresaev, Pushkin in Life)
The son of Colonel Erminin, Greg Erminin is hopelessly in
love with Ada.
Alexey Sklyarenko