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HisHour

ElinorGlyn

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WithgratefulhomageanddevotionIdedicatethisbookto

HerImperialHighnessTheGrandDuchessVladimir

OfRussia

Inmemoryofthehappyeveningsspentinhergraciouspresencewhenreadingtoherthesepages,whichhersympatheticaid,in

facilitatingmy

opportunities

for

studying

the

Russian

character,

enabledmetowrite.Herkindappreciationofthefinishedworkisasourceofthedeepestgratificationtome.

ElinorGlyn

St.Petersburg,May,1910

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CHAPTERI

TheSphinxwassmiling itseternalsmile. Itwas twooclock in the

morning.The

tourists

had

returned

to

Cairo,

and

only

an

Arab

or

two lingered near the boy who held Tamaras camel, and thengraduallyslunkaway;thus,butforHafis,shewasalonealonewithherthoughtsandtheSphinx.

Thestrange,mystical face lookedstraightatherfrom theelevationwhere she sat. Its sensualmocking calmpenetratedherbrain.Thecreature seemed to be laughing at all humanityand sayingThereisnobeyondliveandenjoythethingsofthepresentEat,

drink,and

be

merry,

for

to

morrow

you

die,

and

II

who

sit

here

andknow,tellyouthereisnobeyond.Thethingsyoucantouchandholdtoyourbodiesaretheonlyonesworthgrasping.

No,no!saidTamara,halfaloud,IwillnotIwillnotbelieveit.

Fool,said theSphinx.What isyoursoul?And ifyouhaveone,what have you done with it hitherto? Are you any light in theworld?No,youhavelivedupontheordersofothers,youhavelet

yourindividuality

be

crushed

these

twenty

four

yearssince

the

dayyoucouldspeak.Justanecho it isthat fine thing,your soul!Showitthen,ifyouhaveone!Doyoupossessanopinion?Notabitof it. You simply announce platitudes that you havebeen taughtwere the right answers to all questions! Believeme, you have nosoul.Sotakewhatyoucanabody!Youcertainlyhavethat,onecanseeitwell,snatchwhatitcanbringyou,sinceyouhavenotenoughwill to try forhigher things.Graspwhatyoumay,poorweakling.Thatisthewisdomsittinghereforeternityhastaughtme.

Tamara stirredherhands inprotestbut sheknew the indictmentwas true. Yes, her life hadbeen one long commonplace vista offollowingleadslikeasheep.

Butwasittoolatetochange?Hadshethecourage?Daredshethinkfor herself? If not, themysticmessage of the Sphinxs smilewerebetterfollowed:Eat,drink,andbemerry,fortomorrowyoudie.

Theblue

of

the

sky

seemed

to

soothe

her,

and

speak

of

hope.

Could

anyothercountryproduceaskyofsodeepasapphireasthenightskyofEgypt?Allaroundwasintensesensuouswarmthandstillnessalmostaslightasday.

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Howwiseshehadbeentobreakthroughtheconventionalitywhichsurroundedherandithadrequiredsomenervesoastobeabletocomeherealone,onthisoneofherlastnightsinEgypt.

She half smiled when she thought of Millicent Hardcastles facewhenshehadfirstsuggestedit.

MydearTamara,whatwhatanextraordinarythingforawomanto do!Go to the Sphinx all alone at two oclock in themorning.Wouldnotpeoplethinkitverystrange?

Tamarafeltaqualmforasecond,butwasrebellious.

Well,perhapsbutdoyouknow,Millicent, Ibelieve Idontcare.Thatcarvenblockofstonehashadacuriouseffectuponme.Ithasmademe think as I have never donebefore. I want to take theclearestpictureawaywithmeImustgo.

AndevenMrs.Hardcastlesmildassertionthatitcouldequallywellbe viewed and studied at amore reasonable hour did notmoveTamara,andwhileher friendslumberedcomfortably inherbedat

MenaHouse,

she

had

set

off,

aself

conscious

feeling

of

atruant

schoolboyexaltingandyetfrighteningher.

Tamarawas awidow.James Loraine hadbeen everything that athoroughlyrespectableEnglishhusbandoughttobe.Hehadtreatedherwithkindness,hehadgivenher a comfortablehomehehadonlyaskedhertospendtenmonthsoftheyearinthecountry,andhehadnevercausedheramomentsjealousy.

Shecould

not

remember

her

heart

having

beaten

an

atom

fasteror

slowerforhiscomingorgoing.Shehadlovedhim,andhersistersandbrother, and father, all in the same devotedway, andwhenpneumonia had carried him off nearly two yearsbefore, she hadgrievedwith themeasure the lossofanyoneof themwouldhavecausedherthatwassincerelyandtenderly.

Theyweresuchanicefamily,Tamaras!

Forhundreds

of

years

they

had

lived

on

the

same

land,

doing

their

duty to their neighbors and helping to form that backbone ofEnglandofwhichwehearsomuchnowadays,initspassingaway.

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TheyhadbeenmembersofParliament,of solidWhig,and laterofUnionist, views. They had been staunch Generals, Chairmen ofQuarterSessions, riders to hounds, subscribers to charities, rigid

churchgoers,

disciplined,

orthodox,

worthy

members

of

society.

Underdownwastheirname,andUnderwoodtheirhome.

ThatTamarashouldhavebeengiven thatRussianappellation, inagroupofGladys,MabelsandDorothys,musthavesurelyindicatedthatfatemeanthertofollowalinenotquitesomappedoutasthatofhersisters.TheverymannerofherentryintotheworldwasnotinaccordancewiththeUnderdownplan.

Hermother,LadyGertrudeUnderdown,hadcontractedafriendshipwiththewifeoftheFirstSecretaryoftheRussianEmbassy.

Foreignerswerenotlookeduponwithfavorinthehomecircle,andinsteadofstayingonlythetwomonthsofMayandJune,asshewasfullyentitledto,inLondon,shehadinsisteduponremainingforJulyaswell that yeartobe near her friend Vera and enjoy the gayworld.

TheSquirehadgrumbled,butacquiesced,thoughwhenafterwardafourthdaughterwaspresentedtohimwitharequestthatshemighthavePrincessVeraforagodmotherandaRussiannametobecalledby,hefelthimselfjustifiedincarpingatfate.

Foreign fandangoes, he designated such ideas. However, LadyGertrudewas very ill, and had tobe humored, so the affair tookplace,andTamarathebabywaschristened,withduestate.

TherewerenomoreRussiansuggestionsinthefamily;thesonandheirwho arrived a year laterbecame plain Tom, and then LadyGertrudeUnderdownmadeherbowtotheworldandretiredtothefamilyvaultinUnderwoodChurch.

Theywereallestimablybroughtupbyanaunt,andhardlyeverleftthecountryuntileachonecameupinturntobepresentedatCourt,andgothroughafairlydullseasonamongcountryneighborsonthe

samebent.

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Twoofthem,includingTamara,hadsecuredsuitablehusbands,andat the age of twentythree years the latter had been left a welldoweredwidow.

Shehadwornmourning forjust the rightperiod,had lookedafterheraffairshandedJamesplaceoverwithagoodgrace toJamesbrother and an unliked sisterinlaw, and finally, when she waswearinggraysandmauves,twoyearsalmostafterherloss,shehadallowedherselftobepersuadedintotakingatriptoEgyptwithherfriend,MillicentHardcastle,whowasrecoveringfrominfluenza.

IthadcausedthegreatestflutteratUnderwood,thisjourneyabroad!

Noneof

them

had

been

further

than

Dresden,

where

each

girl

had

learnedGermanforayearorsobeforeherpresentation.

AndwhathadEgyptdoneforTamara?Liftedjustoneprettywhiteeyelid,perhaps.Stirredsomethingwhichonlyonceor twice inherlifeshehadbeendimlyconsciousof.Everythinghadbeenakindofshocktoher.Ashockofanagreeabledescription.Andoncedrivingatnight in theorangegrovesofGhezireh,aftersomeopenair fte,the heavy scent and intoxicating atmosphere hadmade herblood

tingle.She

felt

it

was

almost

wrong

that

things

should

so

appeal

to

hersenses.Anythingwhichappealeddeliberatelytothesenseshadalwaysbeenconsideredasmore thanalmostwrongatUnderwoodChase.

The senseswere improper thingswhich Aunt Clara for her partneverquiteunderstoodwhytheAlmightyshouldhavehadthebadtastetopermitinhumanbeings.

Butthe

Sphinx

was

again

talking

to

Tamaraonly

this

time

in

the

voiceofayoungmanwhowithoutawordofwarninghad risenfrom abankof sandwherehehadbeen stretchedmotionless andunperceived.

A finegoddess, is shenot,Madame,he said.And toadd to theimpertinence of a strangers addressing her at all, Tamara wasfurtherincensedbythevoicebeingthatofaforeigner!

Butit

was

an

extraordinarily

pleasant

voice,

deep

and

tuneful,

and

theInsolentstoodoversixfeethighandwasasslenderasTamaraherselfalmostinspiteofhisshouldersandairofstrength.

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Shehardlyknewwhattoanswer,hehadspokenwithsucheaseandassurance,almostwiththetoneofonewhohailsafellowworshiperandhasarighttoexchangesympathy.

Tamarahadbeenstartled,too,bythesuddenrisingofthemanwhenshethoughtshewasalone,butatlastsheansweredslowly,Yes.

I often come here at night, hewent on, when those devils oftouristshavegonebackintheirdevilofatramway.Thenyougetheraloneandshesaysthingstoyou.Youthinkso,too,isntit?

Yes, again said Tamara, convulsed with wonder at herself for

speakingat

all.

AtfirstIwasangrywhenIsawyourcamelagainsttheskyandsawyou comeanddismountand sitand look, I like tohaveherall tomyself. But afterwardswhen Iwatched you I saw youmeant noharmyouarentatourist,andsoyoudidnotmatter.

Indeed, said Tamara, the fine in her grasping the situation, theUnderdowntrainingresentingitsunconventionality.

Yes,hecontinued,unconcerned.Youcant lookat that faceandfeelweanyofusmattermuchcanyou?

No,saidTamara.

Howmanythousandyearshasshebeentellingpeoplethat?Butitdrivesmemad,angry,furious,toseethetourists!Iwanttostranglethemall!

Heclenchedhishandandhiseyesflashed.

Tamarapeepedup athimhewasnot looking atherbut at theSphinx.Shesaw thathewasextremelyattractive inspiteofhavingunEnglishclothes,whichwerenotwornwithease.Grayflannelofunspeakable cut, andbootswhichwould havemade herbrotherTom shriekwith laughter.TheUnderdownpartofherwhispered,could hebe quite a gentleman? Butwhen he turned his face full

uponher

in

the

moonlight,

that

doubt

vanished

completely.

He

mightevenbeaverygreatgentleman,shethought.

WouldyouliketoseeabitoftheArabianNights?heaskedher.

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Tamararose.Thisreallyoughtnottogoon,thisconversationandyet

Yes,Iwould,

she

said.

Well, the spell isbrokenof theSphinx,he continued.She canttalktomewithyouthere,andshecanttalktoyouwithmenear,soletusgoandseesomethingelsethatisinterestingtogether.

What?askedTamara.

TheSheikhsvillagedownbelow.Halfthepeoplewhocomedont

realizeit

is

there,

and

the

other

half

would

be

afraid

to

ride

through

itatnightbuttheyknowmeandIwilltakecareofyou.

Without the least furtherhesitationhe calledHafis and the camel,spoke to them inArabic,and thenstood ready tohelpTamaraup.She seemedhypnotized,when shewas settled in thehigh saddle.Shebegan to realize that shewas going into theunknownwith aperfectstranger,butshedidnotthinkofturningback.

Whatdo

you

ride?

she

asked.

See, he said, and he made a strange low whistle, which wasinstantlyansweredbyanequallystrangelowwhinnyofahorse,andabeautiful Arab appeared from the foot of the rockswhere allthingswereinshadowledbyalittlebrownboy.

Iamtakinghimbackwithme,hesaid,Isntheabeauty.Ionlyboughthimaweekago,andhealreadyknowsme.

Thenhewasinthesaddlewiththelightestbound,andTamara,whohadalwaysadmiredTomonahorse,knewthatshehadneverseenanyonewho seemed somuch a part of hismount as this quaintforeigner.IsupposeheisanAustrian,shesaidtoherself,andthenaddedwithEnglishinsulararrogance,OnlyAustriansarelikeus.

Theyoungmanappearedquiteindifferenttoanythingshethought.Heprepared to lead thewaydownbeyond theSphinx,apparently

intothe

desert.

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Nowthathewasinfrontofher,Tamaracouldnothelpadmiringthelines of his figure. He was certainly a very decent shape, andcertainlyknewhowtoride.

Thenitcametoherthatthiswasamostsingularadventure,andthefaintpinkmounted toherclearcheekswhensherememberedhowdreadfullyshockedMillicentwouldbeoranyofthefamily!Butitwashernightofrebellion,sothingsmusttaketheircourse.

Theyoungmanrodeinfrontuntiltheywereontheflatdesert,thenhedrewreinandwaitedforher.

Yousee,

he

said,

we

skirt

these

rocks

and

then

we

shall

ride

throughthevillage.Onecanverywellimagineithasbeenthesamealways.

Theyenteredthelittletown.Thestreetswereextremelynarrowandthedarkhousesgaveanairofmysteryaspeculationwhatcouldbegoingonbehindthoseclosedshutters?Hereandthereastraightblueclad figure slunk away round a corner. There was a deepsilenceandthemoonlightmadetheshadowssharpasaknife.Then

ashaft

of

red

light

would

shoot

from

some

strange

low

hovel

as

they

passed, and they could see inside a circle of Arab Bedouinscrouching over a fire. There seemed no hilarity, their facesweresolemnasthegrave.

Presently,inthenarrowestanddarkeststreet,therewasasoundoftomtoms,strainsofweirdmusicandvoices,andthroughthechinksof thehalfopenedshutters lightstreamedacross theroadwhileasmall crowd of Arabs were grouped about the gate in the wall

holdingdonkeys

and

acamel.

Awedding, said theyoungman.Theyhaveescorted thebride.Whatpleasuretoraiseaveilandseeablackface!Buteachonetohistaste.

Tamara looked up at thewindow. Shewonderedwhat couldbehappeningwithinwere theotherwives thereaswell?Shewouldhavelikedtohaveasked.

Theyoungmansawherhesitationandsaidlaconically

Well?

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Theyarehavingaparty,Tamarareplied,withlameobviousness.

Ofcourse,saidtheyoungman.Weddingsandfuneralsequally

goodoccasions

for

company.

They

are

so

wise

they

leave

all

to

fate;

theydonotteartheireyesoutforsomethingtheycannothaveandfightafterdisappointment.Theyarephilosophers,theseArabs.

The little crowd round the gate nowbarred the road, half goodhumoredly,halfwithmenace.

So,so,saidtheyoungman,ridinginfront.Thenhelaughed,andputtinghishandinhispocket,broughtoutaquantityofsilverand

flungit

among

them

with

merry

words

in

Arabic,

while

he

pointed

tothewindowsofthehouse.

Thenhe seized thebridleofTamaras cameland startedhishorseforward. The crowd smiled now and began scrambling for thebaksheesh,andsotheygotthroughinpeace.

Neitherspokeuntiltheywereinasilentlaneagain.

Sometimesthey

can

be

quite

disagreeable,

he

said,

but

it

is

amusingtoseeitall.TheSheikhlivesherehefanciesthepyramidsbelong to him,just as theKhedive fancies allEgypt is hislife ismostlyimagination.

NowTamaracouldseehisfacebetterashelookeduptohersuperiorheight on the camel. He had a little moustache and peculiarlychiseled lipstoo chiseled for aman, she thought for amoment,until she noticed the firm jaw. His eyes were sleepyslightly

Orientalin

their

setting,

and

looked

very

dark,

and

yet

something

madeherthinkthatindaylighttheymightbeblueorgray.

Hedidnot smileat all;ashe spokehis facewasgrave,butwhensomething made him laugh as they turned the next corner, ittransformedhim.Itwastheripplingspontaneousgaietyofachild.

Twogoatshadgot loose fromoppositehovelsandwerebuttingatoneanotherinthemiddleoftheroad.

Hepulleduphishorseandwatched.

Ilikeanyfight,hesaid.

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Butthegoatsfledinfearofhim,sotheywenton.

Tamarawaswonderingwhy she felt so stupid.Shewanted toask

herstrange

companion

anumber

of

questions.

Who

he

was?

What

hewas doing at the Sphinx?and indeed in Egypt.Why he hadspoken to her at all?and yet appeared absolutely indifferent astheyrodealong!Hehadnotaskedherasinglequestionorexpressedtheleastcuriosity.Forsomereasonshefeltpiqued.

Presentlytheyemergedat theendof thevillagewhere therewasasmall lake leftby theretirementof theNile.Themoon,almostfull,was mirrored in it. The scene was one of extreme beauty. The

pyramidsappeared

an

old

rose

pink,

and

everything

else

in

tones

of

sapphirenot the greenblue ofmoonlight in other countries.Allwasbreathlesslystillandlifeless.Onlytheytwo,andthecamelboys,aloneinthenight.

Thedark lineof treeswhichborder the road faced them,and theyrodeslowlyinthatdirection.

You are going to the hotel, I suppose? he said. Iwill see you

safelyto

it.

AndtheyclimbedthebankontotheavenuefromCairo.

Andyou?Tamaracouldnotpreventherselffromasking.Wheredoyougo?

Tohell, sometimes,heanswered,andhiseyeswere fullofmist,buttonightIshallgotobedforachange.

Tamarawasnonplussed.She felt intensely commonplace.Shewasevenalittlecrosswithherself.Whyhadsheaskedaquestion?

TheArabhorsenowtookitintohisheadtocurvetandboundintheairfornoapparentreason,buttheyoungmandidnotstiraninchhelaughed.

Goon,mybeauty,hesaid.I likeyoutobeso.Itshowsyouare

alive.

Astheyapproachedthehotel,Tamarabegantohopenoonewouldseethem.NoonewhocouldtellMillicentthatshehadacompanion.

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Shebentdownandsaid ratherprimly to theyoungmanwhowasagainatherside:

Iam

quite

safe

now,

thank

you.

Ineed

not

trouble

you

any

further.

Goodbye!and Iam soobliged toyou forshowingmeanewwayhome.

He lookedup ather, andhiswhole facewas litwithawhimsicalsmile.

Yes,atthegate,hesaid.Dontbenervous.Iwillgoatthegate.

Tamaradid

not

speak,

and

presently

they

came

to

the

turning

into

thehotel.Thenhestopped.

I supposewe shallmeet again someday,he said.Theyhaveaproverbhere,Meetbeforedawnpartnottilldawn. Theyseeintothefutureinafewdropsofwaterinanyhollowthing.Well,goodnightandbeforeshecouldanswerhewasoffbeyondthehoteluptheroadandthenturningtotherightonasandpath,gallopedoutofsightintowhatmustbethevastdesert.

Where on earth could hebe going to?possibly thedevilif oneknew.

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CHAPTERII

WhenTamarawokeinthemorningtherecollectionofhercamelride

seemedlike

adream.

She

sat

for

along

time

at

the

window

of

her

roomlookingouttowardthegreenworldandCairo.Shewastryingtoadjustthingsinhermind.Thisstrangerhadcertainlyproducedaneffectuponher.

Shewonderedwhohewas,andhowhewould look indaylightand above allwhither he had galloped into the desert. Then shewondered at herself. Thewhole thingwas so out of her linesobizarrein a life of carefullybalanced proprieties. Andwere the

thoughtsthe

Sphinx

had

awaked

in

her

brain

true?

Yes,

certainly

she

hadbeenruledbyothersalwaysandhadneverdevelopedherownsoul.

Shewasvery sensitivethat lastwhimsical smileof theunknownhadhumiliatedher.Shefelthehadlaughedatherprimproprietyinwishing togetridofhimbeforethegate.Indeed,shesuddenlyfelthemight laugh at a goodmany of the things she did. And thisruffledher serenity.Sheputupher slenderhandsandpushed the

thickhair

back

from

her

forehead

with

an

impatient

gesture.

It

all

madeherdissatisfiedwithherselfandfullofunrest.

Youdont tellmea thingaboutyourSphinxexcursion lastnight,Tamara,Millicent Hardcastle said atbreakfast, rather peevishly.Theywere sipping coffee together in the latters room indressinggowns.Wasitnice,andhadthetouristsquitedeparted?

Itwaswonderful!andTamaraleantbackandlookedintodistance.

Therewere

no

tourists,

and

it

made

me

think

anumber

of

new

thingsweseemsuchordinarypeople,Millicent.

Mrs. Hardcastle glanced up surprised, not to say offended, withcoffeecuppoisedintheair.

Yesyoumaywonder,butitistrue,Millywedothesamethingsevery day, and think the same thoughts, and arejust thoroughlycommonplaceanduninteresting.

And you came to these conclusions from gazing at the Sphinx?Mrs.Hardcastleasked.

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Yes,saidTamara,thepinkdeepeningforamomentinhercheeks.In herwhole life she hardly ever had had a secret. I sat there,Millicent, in thesandopposite thestrange image,and itseemed to

smileand

mock

at

all

little

things;

it

appeared

perfectly

ridiculous

thatwepay somuchattention towhat theworld saysor thinks. Icould not help lookingback to the timewhen you and Iwere atDresden together.What dull liveswe haveboth led since! Yoursperhapsmorefilledthanminehasbeen,becauseyouhavechildren;butreallywehavebothbeenbrowsinglikesheep.

Mrs.Hardcastlenowwasalmostirritated.

Icannot

agree

with

you,

she

said.

Our

lives

have

been

full

of

goodandpleasantthingsandIhope,dear,wehavebothdoneourduty.

This,ofcourse,endedthematter!Itwassoundoubtedlytrueeachhaddoneherduty.

After breakfast they started for a last donkeyride, as theymustreturn toCairo in time for theKhedivesball thatnight,which,as

distinguishedEnglish

ladies,

they

were

being

taken

to

by

their

compatriotsat theAgency.Thenon themorrow theywere tostartforEurope.Mrs.Hardcastlecouldnot sparemore timeaway fromherbabies.Theirvisithadonlybeenoffourshortweeks,andnowitwasDecember27,andhomeandhusbandcalledher.

ForTamaraspart,shecoulddoasshepleased;indeed,fortwopinsshewouldhavestayedoninEgypt.

Butthat

was

not

the

intention

of

fate!

Do let us go up that sandpath,Millicent, she said,when theyturnedoutofthehotelgate.Wehaveneverbeenthere,andIwouldliketoseewhereitleadstoperhapsweshallgetquiteanewvistafromthetop

Andsotheywent.

Whatshe

expected

to

find

she

did

not

ask

herself.

In

any

case

they

rodeon,eventuallycomingoutatasmallenclosurewherestoodasortofbungalowinthosedaysitisprobablypulleddownnow,butthen it stoodwithawonderfulviewover thedesert,andover the

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greenworld.Tamarahadvaguelyobserveditinthedistancebefore,but imagined it tobesomewatertowerof thehotel, itwassobareand gaunt. It had been built by some mad Italian, they heard

afterward,for

rest

and

quiet.

Itwasaquaintplacewithtinywindowshighup,evidentlytolightastudio,andtherewasaverandatolookattheviewtowardstheNile.

When they got fairly close they could see that on this veranda ayoung man was stretched at full length. A long wicker chairsupported him, while he read a French novel. Theyat leastTamaracouldseetheyellowbackofthebook,andalso,oneregrets

toadd,

she

was

conscious

that

the

young

man

was

only

clothed

in

blueandwhitestripedsilkpyjamas!thejacketofwhichwasopenandshowedhischestandonefoot,stretchedoutandhangingoverthebackofanotherlowchair,wasactuallybare!

Mrs. Hardcastle touched her donkey and hurried pastthe pathwent soverynear thisunseemly sight!AndTamara followed,butnotbeforetheyoungmanhadtimetoraisehimselfandfrownwithfury. She almost imagined she heard him saying Thosedevils of

tourists!Then

with

the

corner

of

her

eye

ere

they

got

out

of

sight,

sheperceivedthatabluecladArabbroughtcoffeeonalittletray.

Sheglowedwithannoyance.Didhe thinkshehadcome to lookathim?Didhehecertainlywasquiteuninterested,forhemusthaverecognized her;but perhaps not; people look so different in largestrawhatstowhattheyappearwithscarvesofchiffontiedovertheirheads.Butwhyhadshecomethiswayatall?Shewishedathousandtimesshehadsuggestedgoingroundthepyramidsinstead.

Tamara,saidMrs.Hardcastle,whentheyweresafelydescendingthefurthersandpath,withnounclothedyounggiantinview,didyouseetherewasamaninthatchair?Whatadreadfulpersontobelyingonthebalconyundressed!

Inevernoticed,saidTamara,withoutablush.Iamsurprisedatyouhavinglooked,Milliewhenthisviewissofine.

But,my

dear

child,

Icould

not

possibly

help

seeing

him.

How

you

didnotnotice, Icant think;hehadpyjamason,Tamaraandbarefeet!

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Mrs.Hardcastlealmostwhisperedthelastterriblewords.

Isupposehefelthot,saidTamara;itisagrillingday.

But really, dear, no nice people, in any weather, remainerundressedattwelveoclockinthedayforpassersbytolookatdothey?

Well,perhapsheisntaniceperson,allowedTamara.Hemaybemad.Whatwashelike,sinceyousawsomuch,Millicent?

Mrs. Hardcastle glanced over her shoulder reproachfully. You

reallyspeak

as

though

Ihad

looked

on

purpose,

she

said.

He

seemedvery longandnotfat.Isuppose,ashishairwasnotverydark,hemustbeanEnglishman.

Oh, dear, no! exclaimed Tamara. Not an Englishman. Thenseeingherfriendsexpressionofsurprise,Imean, it isnt likelyanEnglishmanwould lie onhisbalcony inpyjamasat leastnot theonesweseeinCairo;theytheyaretoobusy,arentthey?

Thismiserably

lame

explanation

seemed

to

satisfy

Millicent.

It

was

toohotandtoodisagreeable,shefelt,clingingtothedonkeywhileitdescended thesteeppath,tocontinue thesubjectfurther,having toturnonesheadovertheshoulderlikethat;butwhentheygotonthebroadlevelshebeganagain:

Possiblyitwasamadman,Tamara,sentherewithakeeperinthatoutofthewayplace.How fortunatewehad thedonkeyboyswithus!

Tamaralaughed.

Youdeargoose,Millie,he couldnthave eatenusup,youknow;andhewasnotdoingtheleastharm,poorthing.Weshouldnothavegonethatway;itmayhavebeenhisprivatepath.

Still, no one should lie about undressed, Mrs. Hardcastleprotested.Itisnotatallnice.Girlsmighthavebeenridingwithus,

andhow

dreadful

it

would

have

been

then.

Letus forget it,pet!Tamara laughed,and trotonandgetsomerealexercise.

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Soofftheystarted.

Just as theywere turning out of the hotel gate, late in the same

afternoon,ayoung

man

on

an

Arab

horse

passed

the

carriage.

He

wasinordinaryridingdress,andlookedaslim,gracefulsightashetrottedahead.

Heneverglancedtheirway.ButwhileTamarafeltasuddenemotionofsorts,Mrs.Hardcastleexclaimed:

Look, look! I am sure that is hethemadmanwhowore thosepyjamas.

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CHAPTERIII

The Khedives ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but

drivingthrough

the

streets

took

such

aridiculously

long

time,

the

crowdwassogreat.Thepalaceitselfwas,andprobablyisstill,likeallotherpalacesthataredecoratedinthatnondescriptstyleofThirdEmpireFrancenotathingofbeauty.Buttheleveuniformsoftheofficersgaveanairofbrilliancecontrastedwith theciviliansof theGovernment of Egypt. Tamara thought their dress very ugly, itremindedherofa clergymansata childrensparty,wherehehasbeen decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers toamuse the little guests. It seemed strange to see theEnglish faces

beneaththe

fez.

She

and

Millicent

Hardcastle

walked

about

and

talkedtotheirfriends.Thereweremanysmartyounggallantsintheregiments then quartered inCairo,who enjoyeddancingwith theslender,youthfulwidowwiththegoodjewelsandprettydress,andsoonTamarafoundherselfwhirlingwithagayhussar.

Letus stopnear theRoyaltiesand lookat theRussians,he said.You know, a GrandDuke arrived today, andmustbe here tonight.

They came to a standstill close to the littlegroup surrounding theKhedive,andamidthesplendiduniformsoftheGrandDukessuitetherewasoneof scarlet, the likeofwhichTamarahadnever seenbefore.

AfterwardshelearneditwasaCossackoftheEmperorsescort,butatthemomentitseemedlikeagorgeousfancydress.Thehighbootsandlong,strangelygracefulcoat,cutwithanEasternhang,thewhite

underdress,

the

way

the

loose

scarlet

sleeves

fell

at

the

wrist,

showingthewhitetightones,thegoldandsilvertrimmingsandthearms,stuckinthequaintbelt,allpleasedhereyeextremely;andthensherecognizeditswearerastheyoungmanoftheSphinx.

Howdresschangesaperson!shethought.Helookedateasenowinthis gorgeous garment, and a very prince for a fairy tale. Thataccounted for the dreadful gray flannelhe was a soldier andunaccustomed towearing ordinary clothes. She had heard that in

foreigncountries

even

the

officers

wore

their

uniforms

habitually;

notastheEnglishdo,merelyasanirksomeduty.

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Hedidnotappeartoseeher,butwhenshebegandancingagain,andpausedoncemoreforbreath,shewasclosetohimashestoodsomewayapartandalone.

Theireyesmet.Hishadthesamewhimsicalprovokingsmileinthemwhichangeredandyetattractedher.Hemadenomove tobow toher, nor did he take any steps tobe introduced. Sheburntwithannoyance.

He might at least have been presented; it is too impertinentotherwise!shethought.

Sheknew

she

was

looking

her

best:

afair,

distinguished

woman

as

young and fresh as a girl. Hardly a man in the room wasunconsciousofherpresence.Anger lentan extrabrightness tohereyesandcheeks.Shewentondancingwildly.

Thenexttimeshewasnearthestrangerwassomehalfanhourlater,althoughnotoncewassheable tobanish thescarletformfromherview.Hedidnotdance.HetalkednowandthentohisPrince,andthenhewaspresentedtotheofficialladies,withtherestofthesuite.

Helooked

bored.

Tamarawouldnotaskhisname,which she couldhavedonewithease, as every onewas interested in theRussians andglad to talkabout them.Sheavoided theEnglishgroupofbigwigswhere theywere standing, and where she had her placeAnd when theypassed the tallCossack again she turned upon him awitheringlyunconsciousglance.

However,this

was

not

to

continue

the

whole

night,

for

presently

she

wasrequestedbyoneoftheattachstocomeandbepresentedtotheGrandDuke,andwhenshehadmadehercurtseythesuitecameupinturn.

Prince Milaslvski, and she heard one of his friends call himGritzko. The name fell pleasantly on her earsGritzko!Whywashesuchawretchastohumiliateherso?Shefelthorriblysmall.SheoughtnevertohavelethimspeaktoherattheSphinx.Shewas

beingthoroughly

punished

for

her

unconventionality

now!

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ShesaidafewwordsinFrenchtoeachoftheothers,andthen,ashestillstoodtherewiththatprovokingsmile inhissplendideyes,sheturnedawayalmostbitingherlipwithshameandrage.

Beforesheknewitshewasdancingwithafiercecountingreenandsilver.Theirconversationwasinteresting.

Youareheresincelong,Madame?

No,Monsieur,onlyafewweeks,andIgotomorrow.

Ah!youdancebeautifully!

DoI?Iamglad

TheRussianCountheldherverytightly,andtheystoppedquiteoutofbreath,where the screenedwindowshalfhid thepoor ladiesoftheharem,whowatchedthethrongfromtheirsaferetreat.

TheCountbowedand Tamarabowed.A section, not thewholedance,wasevidentlytheRussiancustom.

Thenavoicesaidclosetoherear:

MayI,too,havethehonorofaturn,Madame?andshelookedupintotheeyesofthePrince.

Forasecondshehesitated.Her first impulsewas to scornfullysayno,butshequicklyrealized thatwouldbeundignifiedandabsurd;soshesaidyes,coldly,andlethimplacehisarmabouther.Theband

wasplaying

aparticularly

sensuous

valse,

which

drove

all

young

people mad that year, andif the Count had danced wellthismansmovementswereheaven.Tamaradidnotspeakaword.Shepurposelydidnotlookathim,butdroopedherproudheadsothattheflashingdiamondsofhertiarawereallhecouldhaveseenofher.

Heputnospecialmeaningintothewayheheldher;hejustdanceddivinely; but there was something in the creature himself of aperfectlyannoyingattractivenessorsoitseemedtoTamara.

Theyatlastpausedforamoment,andthenhespoke.Hemadenotthe slightest allusion to the Sphinx incident.He spoke gravely ofCairo,andthepolo,andtheraces,andsaidthathisGrandDukehad

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arrivedthatday.Hewasnotonhisstaff,butwasindeedtravellinginEgyptforhisownamusementanddelectation,hesaid.

Hehad

been

there

since

November,

it

seemed,

and

had

been

up

the

Nile, and had fortunatelybeen able to secure a littlebungalow atMena,wherehecouldspendsomehoursofpeace.

Then Tamara laughed. She remembered Millicent Hardcastlesconsternation over those unfortunate pyjamas. She wondered ifMillicentwould realize that sheTamarawasdancingwith theirwearer now!When she laughed he put his arm around her oncemoreandbegandancing.This timeheheldher ratherclosely,and

suddenlyas

she

laughed

again

to

herself

provokingly,

he

clasped

her

tight.

IfyoulaughlikethatIwillkissyouhereintheroom,hesaid.

Tamarastoppeddeadshort.Sheblazedwithanger.

Howdareyoubesoimpertinent?shesaid.

Theywere

up

in

acorner;

everyones

back

was

turned

to

them

happily, for inonesecondhehadbentandkissedherneck. Itwasdonewithsuchincredibleswiftnessandaudacitythatevenhadtheybeenobserveditmustonlyhavelookedasthoughhebenttopickupsomethingshehaddropped.ButthekissburnedintoTamarasflesh.

Shecouldhardlykeepthetearsofoutragedpridefromhereyes.

Howdareyou!Howdareyou!shehissed.Trulyyouaremaking

meashamed

of

having

let

you

speak

to

me

last

night!

Lastnight?he said,whilehe forciblydrewherhandwithinhisarmandbeganwalkingtowardthegroupofherfriends.Lastnightyouwereafraidsomeshouldseemefromthehotel,andtonightyoudareme.DoitoncemoreandIwillkissyourlips!

Tamarawent deadwhite; she felt as if the groundwere sinkingbeneath her feet; her knees trembled. In all her smooth,

conventionallyordered

life

she

had

never

experienced

such

astrong

emotion.

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ThePrinceglancedather,andthefiercenesswentoutofhiseyes.Hebowedgravelywiththemostcourtlyhomage,andleftherstandingbyMillicentsside.

Then Tamara remembered she was a lady, and that tenue wasexpectedofher;sosheturnedtoherfriendgailyandsaidhowshewasenjoying theball;butherfinenostrilsquiveredat intervalsfortherestofthenight.

ThankGod!shesaidtoherself,whenafewhourslatershegotintobedThankGod!we are going tomorrow. I shall never see himagain,andnooneshalleverknow.

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CHAPTERIV

Nextdaytheystarted,escortedtothestationbyatroupofgushing

friends.Their

compartment

was

abower

of

flowers,

and

as

each

momentwentbyTamarasequanimitywasrestoredbythethoughtthatshewouldsoonbeoutofthelandofherdisgrace.

ItisatiresomejourneytoAlexandriadustyandglaringandnotofgreat interest.They hurried onboard the shipwhen they arrived,without even glancing at their fellow passengers following in thegangway.Neitherwomanwasaperfectsailorandbothwerequiteovercomewithfatigue.Itpromisedtobeadisagreeablenight,too,so

theyretired

at

once

to

their

cabins,

and

were

soon

asleep.

The next day, which was Sunday, the wind blew, but by theafternooncalmeddownagain,andTamaradecidedtodressandgoondeck.

Mrs. Hardcastle went up some hours ago; she was ready forluncheon,maam,hermaidtoldher.

Sheleft

amessage

for

you

to

join

her

when

you

woke.

The shipwas the usual sort of ship that goes fromAlexandria toTrieste,andthetwoEnglishladieshadsecuredplacesfortheirchairsin themostprotected spot.Tamara rather looked forward tobeingabletositthereinthemoonlightandenjoytheMediterranean.

Hermaidprecededherwithherrugandcushionandbook,and itwasnotuntil shewasquite settled that she took cognizanceofan

emptychair

at

her

other

side.

You lazy child!MillicentHardcastle said. To sleep allday likethis! It hasbeen quitebeautiful since luncheon, and I have had amost agreeable time. That extremely polite nice young RussianPrincewemetattheKhedivesballishere,dear;indeed,thatishischairnextyou.HeiswithStephenStrong.Wehavebeentalkingforhours.

Tamarafelt

suddenly

almost

cold.

Inever sawhim in the trainorcomingonboard, she said,withalmostagasp.

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NordidI,andyethemusthavebeenjustbehindus.Ourplacesatmealsarenexthim,too.Sofortunatehewasintroduced,becauseonecould not talk to a strange man, even on a boat. I never can

understandthose

people

who

pick

up

acquaintances

promiscuously;

canyou,dear?

No,saidTamara,feebly.

Shewasponderingwhat todo.She couldnotdecline toknow thePrincewithoutmakingsomeexplanationtoMillicent.Shealsocouldnotflatterhimsomuch.Shemustjustbeicilycold,andifheshouldbefurtherimpertinentshecouldremaininhercabin.

Butwhatanannoyingcontretemps!Andshehadthoughtsheshouldnever see him again!and here until Wednesday afternoon, shewouldbe constantly reminded of themost disgraceful incident inher career. All brought upon herself, too, by her own action inhavinglapsedfromtherigidrulesinwhichAuntClarahadbroughtherup.

IfshehadnotansweredhimattheSphinxhecouldnothavebut

sherefused

to

dwell

upon

the

shame

of

this

recollection.

She had quite half an hour to grow calmbefore the cause of herunrestcameevenintosight,andwhenhedid,itwastowalkpastinthecompanyoftheiroldfriend,StephenStrong.

ThePrinceraisedhiscapgravely,andTamaracomfortedherselfbynoticingagainhowbadlyhisclothesfittedhim!Howunsuitable,andevenridiculous,theyweretoEnglisheyesThatgaveherpleasure!

Alsoshe

must

have

alittle

fun

with

Millicent.

Hasitstruckyou,Millie,thePrinceisthesameyoungmanwesawin thepyjamason theveranda?Iamsurprisedatyourspeaking tosuchaperson,evenifhehasbeenintroduced!

Mrs.Hardcastleraisedanaggrievedhead.

Really, Tamara, she said, I had altogether forgotten that

unpleasantincident.

Iwish

you

had

not

reminded

me

of

it.

He

is

a

most respectful, modest, unassuming young man. I am sure hewouldbedreadfullyuncomfortable ifhewereawarewehad seenhimso.

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I think he looked better like that than he does now, Tamararejoined,spitefully.Didyoueverseesuchclothes?

Mrs.Hardcastle

whisked

right

round

in

her

chair

and

stared

at

her

friend.Shewasshocked,inthefirstplace,thatTamarashouldspeaksolightlyofabreachofdecorum;and,secondly,shewasastonishedatanotheraspectofthecase.

Ithoughtyouneversawhimatallthatmorning!sheexclaimed.

Tamarawasnettled.

Yourdescription

was

so

vivid;

besides,

Ilooked

back!

Youlookedback!Tamara!afterIhadtoldyouhewasntdressed!Mydear,howcouldyou?

Well,Idid.Hush!heiscomingtowardus,andTamarahurriedlyopenedabookandlookeddown.

AtlastMrs.Lorainehasarrivedondeck,sheheardMillicentsay;

andthen,

for

conventions

sake

she

was

obliged

to

glance

up

and

bowcoldly.

Theyoungmandidnotseemthe least impressed;hesatdownandpulledhisrugroundhiskneesandgazedoutatthesea.Thesunhadset,andthemoonwouldsoonriseinallherfullglory.

Therewashardlytwilightandtheshipselectriclightswerealreadybeinglit.TheoldEnglishman,StephenStrong,greetedherandtook

thechair

at

Mrs.

Hardcastles

other

side.

That

lady

was

in

one

of

her

chattymoods,wheneachnicelyexpressedsentencefellfromherlipsdirectlyaftertheotherallsopleasantandeasytounderstand.NooneeverfeltwithMillicentheneeduseanatomofbrain.Thesearethewomenmenlike.

Tamarapretended to readherbook,but shewas consciousof thenearproximityof thePrince.Nothing somagnetic in thewayofapersonalityhadevercrossedherpathasyet.

Hesatasstillasastatuegazingatthesea.Anuncontrollabledesireto lookathimshookTamara,butshedominated it.Thediscomfortatlastgrewsogreatthatshealmosttrembled.

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Thenhespoke:

Haveyoucatseyes?heasked.

Now,whentherewasalegitimatechancetolookathim,shefoundherorbsgluedtoherbook.

Ofcoursenot!shesaid,icily.

Thenofwhatuse topretendyouare reading in thisgloom?Themiserablelanternisnotgoodforagleam.

Tamarawas

silent.

She

even

turned

apage.

She

would

be

irritating,

too!

Thatballwasasight,hecontinued.Didyouseetheharemladiespeeping from their cage? They looked fat and ugly enough tobewiselykept there.What a lot of fools theymust have thoughtus,cavortingfortheiramusement.

Poorwomen!saidTamara.Hervoicewas theprimmest thing in

voicesshe

had

ever

heard.

Whypoorwomen?heasked.Theyhaveall thepleasuresof thebody, and no anxieties; nothingbut the little excitement of tryingnowandthentopoisontheirrivals!It is thepoorKhedive!Thinkofhishaving towade throughall that fatmass to findoneprettyone!

ThetoneofthisconversationdispleasedTamara.Shedidnotwishto

enterinto

the

ethics

of

the

harem.

She

wished

he

would

be

silent

again,only thatdeepvoiceofhiswassopleasant!HisEnglishwaswonderful,too,withhardlytheleastaccent;andwhenshedidallowherselftolookathimshecouldnothelpadmiringthewayhishairgrew,back froma foreheadpurelyGreek.Hisnosewas shortandrathersquare,whilethosetoobeautifullychiseledlipsofhishadanexpressionofextraordinarycharm.Hiswholepersonalitybreathedattraction,everyhumanbeingwhoapproachedhimwasconsciousof it. As for his eyes, theywere enormous, withbroad full lids,

mystical,passionate,

and

yet

unconcerned.

Always

they

suggested

somethingEastern,thoughonthewholehewasfair.Tamarasownsoftbrownhairwasonlyashadelighterthanhis.

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Shewasnotsureyet,butnowthoughthiseyesweregray.

She could have asked him a number of questions she wanted

answered,but

she

refrained.

He

suddenly

turned

and

looked

at

her

full in the face.He hadbeen gazing fixedly at the sea, and thesemovements of quicknesswere disconcerting, especially as Tamarafoundherselfcaughtintheactofstudyinghisfeatures.

WhatonearthmadeyougototheSphinx?heasked.

AngerroseinTamara;theinferencewasnotflattering,inhisspeech,orthetoneinwhichheutteredit.

Tocountthenumberofstonesthecreature ismadeof,ofcourse,shesaid.Those technicalthingsarewhatonewouldgoforatthattimeofnight.

And now her companion rippledwith laughter, infectious,joyouslaughter.

Ah, you are not so stupid as I thought! he said, frankly. You

lookedpoetic

and

fine

with

that

gauze

scarf

around

your

head

sitting there and then afterwards.Wheugh! Itwas like a prettywaxdoll.Iregrettedhavingwastedthevillageonyou.Allthatisfullofmeaningforme.

Tamara was interested in spite of her will to remain reserved,althoughsheresentedthewaxdollpart.

Yes?hefaltered.

YoucanlearnallthelessonsyouwantinlifefromtheSphinx,hewenton.WhatpaltryatomsyouandIare,andhowlittlewemattertoanyonebutourselves!She iscruel, too,anddoesnothesitate totearoneinpiecesifshewishesandshecouldmakeonereadytogetdrunkonblood.

Tamararoundedhersweeteyes.

Thenthe

village

there,

full

of

men

with

the

passions

of

animals,

living from father to son forever the same, wailing for a death,rejoicingatabirth,takingstrongphysicalpleasureintheirmarriagerightsandtheirwomen,andbeating themwhentheyare tired;but

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you are too civilized in your country to understand any of thesethings.

Tamarawas

stirred;

she

felt

she

ought

to

be

shocked.

Contrarytoherdetermination,sheaskedaquestion:

Thenyouarenotcivilizedinyours?

Notnearlysobadly,hesaid.Theprimitiveforcesoflifestillgiveusemotions,whenwearenotwild;whenwearethenitisthejolliesthell.

Tamarawasalmostrepulsed.Howcouldonebesooddasthisman?she thought. Was he a type, or was he mad, or just only mostannoyingly attractive and different from any one else? She foundherself thrilled. Thenwith a subtle change he turned and almosttenderlywrapped the rug,which hadblown a little down,moresecurelyroundher.

You have such a smallwhite face, he said, thewords a caress.

Onemust

see

that

you

are

warm

and

the

naughty

winds

do

not

blowyouaway.

Tamarashivered;shecouldnothavetoldwhy.

Afterthistheconversationbecamegeneral.

Millicentjoined inwith her obvious remarks. The seawasmuchsmoother; theywouldbe able to eat some dinner; she had heard

therewas

agipsy

troupe

on

board

in

the

third

class,

and

how

nice

it

wouldbetohavesomemusic!

AndsomethingangeredTamarainthewaythePrinceassistedinallthis, outcommonplacing her friend in commonplaces with thesuavestpoliteness,whilehisgravefacebetrayedhimnotevenbyatwinkle in the eye.Onlywhen he caught hers; then he laughed asuddenshortlaugh,andhewhispered:

Whataperfect

woman!

everything

in

the

right

place.

Heaven!

at

the

best times shewoulddoherknitting,andhandonea child everyyear!IllmarrywhenIcanfindawifelikethat!

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Tamarawas furious.SheresentedhisridiculeofMillicent,andshewashorrifiedatthewholespeech;so,gatheringherrugtogether,shesaidshewascold,andaskedMr.Strong topacethedeckwithher.

Norwould

she

take

the

faintest

further

notice

of

the

Prince,

until

theyallwentbelowtotheeveningmeal.

At dinner he seemed to be practically a stranger again. He wasTamarasneighbor,buthe riskedno startling speeches; in fact,hehardly spoke to her, contenting himselfwith discussing seafaringmatters with the captain, and an occasional remark to StephenStrong,whosatbeyondMrs.Hardcastle.Itwasunnecessaryforherto have decidedbeforehand to snub him; he did not give her the

chance.

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CHAPTERV

OnMondaytheyheardtheywouldarriveatBrindisiontheTuesday

morning,and

Tamara

persuaded

Mrs.

Hardcastle

to

agree

to

disembarkingthereinsteadofgoingontoTrieste.

Weshallbehomeall thesooner,shesaid.Andso itwassettled.ButtherewasstillallMondaytobegotthrough.

Itwas a perfect day, theblueMediterraneanwas notbelying itsname. Tamara felt in great spirits, as she came on deck at aboutelevenoclock, to findMillicent takingavigorouswalk roundand

roundwith

the

Russian

Prince.

They

seemed

to

be

laughing

and

chatteringlikeoldfriends.AgainTamararesentedit.

He is onlymaking fun ofpoorMillie, she thought, whoneversees a thing, and she settledherself inher chair and lether eyesfeastonthebluesea

Whatshouldshedowithher life?This tasteofchangeandforeignskieshadunsettledher.How could she return toUnderwoodand

thehumdrum

everyday

existence

there?

She

seemed

to

see

it

mappedoutonaplainasonewhostoodonamountain.Sheseemedtorealizethatalwaystherehadbeendormantinhersomedifferencefrom the others. She remembered now how often she perceivedthings thatnoneof themsaw,andsheknew itwasbecauseof thisthat it had grown into a habitwith her from early childhood tosuppresstheexpressionofherthoughts,andkeepthemtoherselfuntiloutwardly,atallevents,shewasof thesamestolidmouldasherfamily.Thedears!theycouldnothelpit.

Butaboutonepoint shewasdetermined.Shewould thinkandactfor herself in future.AuntClaras frown should not prohibit anybookoranyaction.Theworldshouldteachherwhatitcould.

Tamarahadreceivedasolideducation;nowshewouldprofitbyit,and instead of letting all her knowledge lie like abulb in a roothouse,shewouldplantitandtendit,andwouldhopetoseesweetflowersspringingforth.

NextsummerIshallbetwentyfiveyearsold,shesaidtoherself,andthewholethinghasbeenawaste.

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Each time theenergeticpromenaderspassedher chair sheheardafewwordsoftheirconversation,onhuntingoften,andthedogs,andthe children, Berties cleverness, and Muriels chickenpox, but

alwaysthe

Prince

seemed

interested

and

polite.

Presently the old man, Stephen Strong, came up and took Mrs.Hardcastleschair.

MayIdisturbyourmeditations?hesaid.Youlooksowise.

No, I am foolish, Tamara answered. Now youwho know theworldmustcomeandtalkandteachmeitsmeaning.

Hewasratherawonderfuloldman,StephenStrong,purelyEnglishtolookat,andpurelycosmopolitaninhabitsandlife.Hehadbeeninthe diplomatic service years ago, and had been in Egypt in thegorgeousIsmailtime;thenafortunecamehisway,andhetraveledtheearthover.TherewereyearsspentinViennaandPetersburgandParis,andalwaystheearlywinterbackinthelandoftheSphinx.

Theworld, he said, as he arranged himself in the chair, is an

extremelypleasant

place

if

one

takes

it

as

it

is,

and

does

not

quarrel

with it. One must not be intolerant, and one must not behypercritical.Seeitallandmakeallowancesfortheweaknessofthehumanbeingswhoinhabitit.

Yes,saidTamara,Iknowyouareright;butsomanyofusbelongto a tribe who think their point of view the only one. I do, forinstance;thatiswhyIsayIamfoolish.

Thewalkers

passed

again.

There is a type for you to study, Stephen Strong said. PrinceMilaslvski.Ihaveknownhimformanyyears,sincehewasachildalmost; he is about twentynine or thirtynow, and really a ratherinterestingpersonality.

Yes,saidTamara,honestly,Ifeelthat.Tellmeabouthim?

StephenStrong

lit

acigar

and

puffed

for

afew

seconds,

then

he

settledhimselfwiththeairofapersonbeginninganarrative.

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He came intohisvast fortune rather tooyoung, and lived ratherfiercely.HismotherwasaBasmanoff;thatmeansakindofCroesusinRussia.Heisagreatfavoritewiththepowersthatbe,andisinthe

Cossacksof

the

Escort.

Something

in

their

wild

freedom

appealed

to

himmore than any other corps.He is a Cossack himself on themothersside,andthebloodisallratherwild,youknow.

Tamaralookedasshefeltinterested.

They tell themost tremendous stories about him, the oldmanwenton,hugelyexaggerated,ofcourse;butthefactremains,heisafascinating,restless,dauntlesscharacter.

Whatsortofstories?askedTamara,timidly.

Not all fit for your ears, gentle lady, laughed Stephen Strong.Sheerdevilment,mostly.Itwastheamusementinthebeginningtodarehimtoanything,themaddestfeats.Heranoffwithanunonce,itissaid,forabet,anddepositedherinthehouseofthemanshehadlovedbeforehervowsweretaken.ThatwasinPoland.Thenhehasorgies sometimes athis countryplace,when everyone ismad for

threedays

on

end.

It

causes

terrible

scandal.

Then

he

comes

back

like

alamb,andpurrstoalltheoldladies.TheysayheobeysneitherGodnortheDevilonlytheEmperoronthisearth.

Howdreadful!forceofhabitmadeTamarasay,whileherthoughtsunconsciouslyranintointerestedfascination.

He isabsolutely fearless,andascoolasanEnglishman,and thereare not anymean things told about him, though, Steven Strong

continued,and

indeed

sometimes

he

lives

the

simplest

country

life

withhishorsesanddogs,andhisownpeopleworshiphim,Ibelieve.Butthereisnowildestprankheisincapableofifhisbloodisup.

I thinkhe looks like it, saidTamara.Is itbecausehehabituallywearsuniformthathisordinaryclothesfitsobadly?Tooureyesheseemsdressedlikesomecommisvoyageur.

Ofcourse,saidStephenStrong.AndeveninParisIdontsuppose

youwould

approve

of

him

in

that

respect,

but

if

you

could

see

him

inPetersburg,thenIbelieveyouwouldbelikealltherest.

Allwhichrest?askedTamara.

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Women.Theysimplyadorehim.Bohemians,greatladies,actresses,dancers,and

Hewas

just

going

to

mention

those

of

another

world,

when

he

felt

Tamarawouldhardlyunderstandhim,sohestoppedshort.

Somethinginherroseupinarms.

Itshowshowfoolishtheyare,shesaid.

StephenStrongglancedathersideways,andifshecouldhavereadhisthoughtstheywere:

This sweet Englishwoman is under Gritzkos spell already, andhowsheisbattlingagainstit!Shewonthaveachance,though,ifhemakesuphismindtowin.

ButTamara,forallhergentlefeatures,wasnoweakling;onlyherlifehadbeenalonghibernation;andnowthespringhadcome,andsoonthetimeofthefindingofhoneyandanewlife.

Whatcan

he

be

talking

about

to

my

friend,

Mr.

Strong?

she

asked,

asthetwopassedagain.Millicentisoneofthelastwomenhecanhaveanything in commonwith; shewould simplydieofhorror ifsheheardanyofthesestoriesandhecantbeinterestedinawordshesays.

Healwaysdoestheunexpected,andStephenStronglaughedashesaidit.Hehimselfwasamusedatthisillmatchedpair.

Mrs.Hardcastle

is

agreeable

to

look

at,

too,

he

continued.

Tamarasmiledscornfully.

That is the lowest view to take. One should be abovematerialappearance.

Charming lady! said Stephen Strong. Yes, indeed you do notknowtheworld.

Tamarawasnotangry.Shelookedathimandsmiled,showingherbeautifulteeth.

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Ofcourseyouthinkmeagoose,shesaid,butIwarnedyouIwasone.Tellme,shallIevergrowoutofittellme,youwhoknow?

Ifthe

teacher

is

young

and

handsome

enough

to

make

your

heart

beat, said her old companion.And thenMillicent and the Princejoinedthem.

Mrs.Hardcastles roundblue eyeswere flashingbrightly, andherfreshfacewasaglowwithexerciseandenjoyment.

Tamaradear, you are too incorrigibly lazy.Whydo you sit hereinsteadof takingexercise?andyouhaveno ideaof the interesting

thingsthe

Prince

has

been

telling

me.

All

about

aRussian

poet

calledoh,Icantpronouncethename,butwhowroteofadevilnotexactlyFaust,youknow,thoughsomethinglikeit.

Tamara noticed that amused, whimsical, mocking gleam in theCossacks great eyes,butMillicentwent gaily on, unconscious ofanythingbutherself.

Imean thosemythical, strange sort ofdevilswho come to earth,

youknow,

andandmake

love

to

ladiesa

sort

of

Satan

like

in

Marie Corellis lovelybook. You remember, Tamara, the one youweresofunnyabout,laughingwhenyoureadit.

Youmean TheDemon ofLermontoff,probably,Millicent,dontyou? Tamara said. A friend of my mothers translated it intoEnglish,andIhaveknown itsinceIwasachild.I think itmustbeveryfineintheoriginal,andshelookedatthePrince.

Inone

moment

his

face

became

serious

and

sympathetic.

Youknowourgreatpoetswork, then?he said, surprised.Onewouldnothavethoughtit!

ThenagainTamarasangerrose.Therewasalwaystheinsinuationinhis remarks, seemingly unconscious, and therefore the moreirritating,thatshewasacommonplacefool.

Hernamethe

heroinesis

the

same

as

my

own,

she

said,

gravely;buttherewasachallengeinhereyes.

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Tamara! he said. Wellit couldbea devilmight come yourway,butyouwouldkneelandpray,andeatbonbons,andnotlistentohim.

Itwoulddependuponthedevil,shesaid.

Thosewho live the longestwillsee themost,and thePrinceputbackhisheadandlaughedwithrealenjoymentathisthoughts,justashehaddonewhenthetwogoatshadbuttedatoneanotherintheroad.

Tamarafelthercheeksblazewithrage,butshewouldnotenterthe

lists,in

spite

of

the

late

challenge

in

her

eyes.

Mr. Strong had vacatedMillicents chair and taken his own. Theparty soon settled into their legitimate places, and Tamara againtookupherbook.

No,dont read, thePrince said.Yougetangryatoncewithmewhenwetalk,andtheredcomesintoyourcheeks,andIlikeit.

Exasperationwas

almost

uncontrollable

in

Tamara.

She

remained

silent,onlythelittleearnextthePrinceburnedscarlet.

Somedayyouwill come toRussia,he said, and thenyouwilllearnmanythings.

Ihavenodesiretogothere,saidTamara, lyingfrankly,as ithadalwaysbeenhergreatwish,and indeedhergodmother,whoneverforgot her, had oftenbegged her to visit that northern clime;but

Russia!aswell

have

suggested

the

moon

at

Underwood.

It would freeze you, perhaps, or burn youwho can tell? thePrincesaid.Onewouldseewhenyougotthere.Ihaveanoldlady,adear friend,withwhitehairandamoleonher cheeksomeonewhoseesstraight.Shewouldbegoodforyoureducation.

Tamara thought it would be wiser not to show any furtherannoyance,soshesaidlightly:

Yes,Iamonlysixteen,andhaveneverlefttheschoolroom;itwouldbedelightfultobetaughthowtolive.

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Heturnedandsmiledather.

Youhardlylookanymoretwenty,perhaps,andneverkissed!

Amemoryroseupofascorchedneck,andsuddenlyTamaraslongeyelashesrestedonhercheek.

Thenintohissplendideyescameafierce,savage,passionategleam,whichshedidnotsee,butdimly felt,andhesaid ina lowvoicealittlethick:

Andasyetneverreallykissed.

Milly,saidTamara,ascalmlyasshecould,whattimedowegetinto Brindisi tomorrow morning? And think of it, on Thursdaynightweshallbeathome.

Homeseemedsoverysafe!

ThePrincedidnotcome in to luncheon,somethingwas thematterwith hisArab horse, and he had gone to see to itjustbeforea

concernon

his

face

as

of

the

news

of

illness

to

his

nearest

kin.

Tamarawasgay and charming, and laughedwith Stephen Strongandthecaptaininquiteanunusualwayforher.Theyboththoughtheranadorablewoman.PoorTamara!andsoshereallywas.

AboutteatimePrinceMilaslvskiturnedupagain.

Heisallrightnow,hesaid,surethathislistenerswereinperfect

sympathywith

him.

It

was

those

fools

down

there.

Ihave

made

them suffer, I can say, and then he turned to Stephen Strong.Among the steerage there isanAlexandriangipsy troupe. Ihaveordered themup to sing tous tonight, sinceMadamewished it,andheturneduponMillicentanairofdeepdevotion.

Commonraggedcreatures,butonewithsomeanklesandonewithavoice.Inanycase,wemustcelebratetheseladieslastnight.

Andthus

the

terrible

present

end

to

their

acquaintance

fell

about!

Nothingcouldhavebeenmorecharming than thePrincewasuntildinnertime,and indeed through thatmeal,onlyhemadeStephen

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Strong change places with him, so that he might be next Mrs.Hardcastle,muchtothatladysdelight.

Heis

really

too

fascinating,

she

said,

as

she

came

into

Tamaras

cabintofetchherfortheeveningmeal.IhardlythinkHenrywouldlikehisdevotiontome.Whatdoyouthink,dear?

I am surehewouldbe awfullyjealous,Millydarling; you reallymust be careful, Tamara said. And with a conscious air ofcomplacentpleasantlytickledvirtueMrs.Hardcastleledthewaytothesaloon.

Itwas

not

possible,

Tamara

thought,

that

anything

so

terribly

unpleasant as thePrinceshaving toomuch champagne atdinner,couldhaveaccountedforhissimplyscandalousbehaviorafter;andyetsurelythatwouldhavebeenthekindestthingtosay.But,no,itwasnotthat.

Thiswas,inbrief,thescenewhichwasenactedontheupperdeck:

With thepermissionof thecaptain, thegipsy troupewerebrought,

andbegan

their

performance,

tame

enough

at

the

commencement

untilthePrincegaveordersforthemtobesuppliedwithunlimitedchampagne,andthenthewildestdancingbegan.TheywrithedandgesticulatedandundulatedinamannerwhichmadeMillicentclingontoherchair,growcrimsonintheface,andfinallystarttoherfeet.

But the worst happened when the Prince rose and, taking atambourine,began,withaweird shriek, tobeat itwildly,his eyesablazeandhislipsapart.

Then,seizingthechiefdancerandbangingituponherhead,heheldhis arm about her heaving breast, as she turned to him with aserpentinemovementofvoluptuousdelight.

Inasecondhehadcaughtholdofher,andhadliftedandswungherfaroutoverthedarkbluewaters,then,withaswirltotheside,heldhersuspendedintheairabovetheopendeckbelow.

Ha,ha!

yelled

the

troupe,

in

frenzied

pleasure,

and,

nimble

as

a

cat, one roughdarkman rusheddown the ladder and caught thehangingwomaninhisarms.Thentheyallclappedandcheeredand

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shriekedwithjoy,whilethePrince,puttinghishandsinhispockets,pulledoutheapsofgoldandflungitamongthem.

Backto

hell,

rats!

he

shouted,

laughing.

See,

you

have

frightened

theladies.Youshouldallbekilled!

For Tamara and Millicent had risen, and with stately steps hadquittedthescene.

It was all too terrible and too vulgarly melodramatic, Tamarathought,especiallythattouchingofthewomanandthatflingingofthegold,thelattercausedbythesamebarbaricinstinctwhichmade

himthrow

the

silver

in

the

Sheikhs

village

by

the

moonlit

Sphinx,

onlythiswasworseathousandfold.

ThenextmorningthetwoladieslefttheshipatBrindisibeforeeitherthePrinceorStephenStrongwasawake.Bothweresilentuponthesubjectofthenightbefore,untilMillicentatlastsaidwhentheywereinthetrain:

Tamarayou wont tell Henry or your family, will you, dear?

Becausereally,

last

night

he

was

so

fascinatingbut

that

dancing!

I

amsureyoufeel,withme,wecouldhavediedofshame.

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CHAPTERVI

When Tamara reached Underwood and saw a letter from her

Russiangodmother

among

the

pile

which

awaited

her,

she

felt

it

was

the fingerof fate,andwhensheread itand found itcontainednotonlyNewYearswishes,but an invitation couched in affectionateand persuasive terms that she should visit St. Petersburg, shesuddenly,andwithoutconsultingherfamily,decidedshewouldgo.

ThereissomethingdrawingmetoRussia,shesaidtoherself.Onegets intothecurrentofthings.Ifelt itintheair.AndwhyshouldIhesitatenow Iam free?Why should Inotaccept,justbecauseone

Russianman

has

horrified

me.

It

is,

Isuppose,

abig

city,

and

perhapsIshallneverseehimthere.

Sosheannouncedherdecision to thedumfoundedhousehold,andinlessthanaweektooktheNordExpress.

TheCourt, alas! is inmourning,hergodmotherhadwritten,soyouwillseenosplendidCourtballs,butIdaresaywecandivertyou otherwise, Tamara, and I am so anxious to make the

acquaintanceof

my

godchild.

ThemorningaftersheleftthemAuntClaraexpressedherselfthusatbreakfast:

IseeagreatandmostunwelcomechangeindearTamarasinceshereturnedfromEgypt,IhadhopedMillicentHardcastlewouldbeallthatwassteadyingandwellbalancedasacompanionforher,butitseems thismodernrestlessnesshasgot intoherblood. I tremble to

thinkwhat

ideas

she

will

bring

from

Russia.

Almost

savages

they

are

there!Shemaybesent toSiberiaorsomethingdreadful,andwemayneverseeheragain.

Oh!comeAuntClara!TomUnderdownprotested,ashebutteredhistoast.Ithinkyouarealittlebehindthetimes.ThereisaRussianatOxfordwithmeandhe is thedecentest chap in theworld.Youspeakasthoughtheyalmostlivedonrawfish!

Mydear

Tom,

said

Miss

Underdown,

severely.

I

was

reading

onlyyesterday,intheChristianClarion, howoneoftheirEmperorscutoffeveryoneshead.Dreadfulcustoms theyhave, itseems;andone of their EmpressesCatherine, I think; her name was.Well,

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dear, it is too shocking to speakofandmostpeoplewere sent tothemines!

Oh!hang

it

all,

Aunt

Clara,

you

cant

have

looked

at

the

date!

You

canhuntupjust thosejollykindofstoriesaboutourHenryVIII. ifyouwant to, you know, and our Elizabethwasnt the saint theymadeout.AndasforSiberia,Iamgoingtheremyselfsomeday,onthe TransSiberian Railway. Tamara will be all right. I wish toheavens she had takenmewith her.We have got dry rot in thishouse,thatiswhatisthematterwithus!

Tom! almost gasped Miss Underdown. Your manners are

extremelydispleasing,

and

the

tone

of

your

remarks

is

far

from

what

onecouldwish!

Meanwhile Tamara was speeding on her way to the North, herinterestandexcitementinherjourneydeepeningwitheachmile.

The snow and the vast forests impressed her from the trainwindows. Every smallest shade made its effect upon her brain.Tamarawassensitive toall formandcolor.Shewasapersonwho

apprehendedthings,

and

from

the

habit

of

keeping

all

her

observationstoherselfperhapsthefacultyofperceptionhadgrownthekeener.

Thesilenceseemedtobethefirstthingsheremarkedonreachingthefrontier. The porterswere so grave and quiet,with theirbeardedkindlyfaces,manyofthem likethesaintsandBiblicalcharacters inSundayschoolpicturebooksathome.

Andfinally

she

arrived

at

St.

Petersburg,

and

found

her

godmother

waiting for her on the platform. They recognized each otherimmediately. Tamara had several photographs of the PrincessArdcheff.

Welcome, mafilleule, that lady cried,while she shook her hand.AfteralltheseyearsIcanhaveyouinmyhouse.

Theysaidallsortsofmutuallyagreeablethingsontheirwaythither,

andthey

looked

at

each

other

shyly.

Sheisnotbeautiful,ranthePrincesscomments.Thoughshehasasuperbairofbreedingthatisfromherpoormotherbuthereyes

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areherfatherseyes.Sheisverysweet,andwhatalovelyskinyes,andeyelashesandprobablyafigurewhenonecanseebeneaththefurs tall and very slender in any case. Yes, I am far from

disappointedfar.

AndTamarathought:

Mygodmother isasplendid looking lady! I likeherbrightbrowneyesandthatwhitehair;andwhataqueerblackmoleuponherleftcheek, like an early eighteenthcenturybeauty spot.Where have Iheardlatelyofsomeonewithamole?

Youfortunately

see

our

city

with

afresh

mantle

of

snow,

Tamara,

the Princess said, glancing from the automobile window as theyspedalong.Itisnot,alas!alwayssowhiteasthis.

ItappearedwonderfultoTamarasoquiteunlikeanythingshehadimagined.The tinysleighsseemingly tooridiculouslysmall for theenormouslypaddedcoachmanon theboxesthegoodhorseswiththeirsweepingtailstheunusualharness.And,aboveall,againthesilencecausedbythesnow.

Herfirstremarkwasalmostachildishoneofgleeandappreciation,and then she stopped short.Whatwould her godmother think ofsuchanoutburst!ShemustreturntothecontainedselfrepressionofthetimebeforehervisittotheSphinxsurelyinthisstrangeland!

ThePrincessArdcheffsfrankfacewasilluminatedwithasmile.

Sheisextremelyyoung,shethought,inspiteofherwidowhood,

butIlike

her,

and

Iknow

we

shall

be

friends.

Just then theyarrivedatherhouse in theSerguiefskaia. Ithadnotappeared to Tamara that theywere approaching any particularlyfashionablequarter.Afinehabitationseemedtheneighborofquiteahumbleone,andheretherewasevenashopafewdoorsdown,andexcept for the very tallwindows therewas nothing exceptionallyimposingontheoutside.Butwhentheyenteredthefirsthallandthegaily liveriedsuisseandtwofootmenhadremoved theirfurs,and

thePrincess

snow

boots,

then

Tamara

perceived

she

was

indeed

in

a

glorioushome.

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PrincessArdcheffshousewas,and is,perhaps themoststately inallPetersburg.

Asthey

ascended

the

enormous

staircase

dividing

on

the

first

landing, and reaching the surrounding galleries above in twosweeps, a grave majordomo and more footmen met them, andopenedwide thedoorsofa lofty room. Itwas fullof finepicturesand objets dart, and though the furniture dated from the time ofAlexander II., and even a little earlierwhen a flood of frightfultaste pervaded all Europestill the stuffs and the colors werebeautiful and rich, and time had softened their crudity into aharmoniouswhole.

Be thedecorationsofahousewhat theywill, it is themistressof itwhogives therooms theirsoul.Ifhers isvulgar,sowill theroomsbe, even thoughMonsieur Nelson himself has but just designedtheminpurestLouisXVI.Buttheworstofallarethosewhichlookasthoughtheirownerconstantlyattendedbazaars,andbroughtthesuperfluoushorrorsshesecuredtherebackwithher.Thentherearevapidrooms,andanaemicrooms,andfiddly,andmessyrooms,andtherearemonumentsofwealthwithnoindividualityatall.

Tamarafeltallthesenuancesdirectly,andsheknewthatheredweltawomanofnaturalrefinementandabroadoutlook.

Shesankintoanoldfashionedsofa,coveredwithsilkaquarterofaninch thick, and the atmosphere seemed to breathe life andcompleteness.

Teaandquantitiesofdifferentlittlebonnesbouchesawaitedthem.But

ifthere

was

asamovar

she

did

not

recognize

it

as

such;

in

fact,

she

hadseennothingwhichmanywritersdescribeasRussian.

The Princess talked on in a fashion of perfect simplicity anddirectness.Shetoldherthatherfriendswouldallwelcomeherandbeglad thatanEnglishwomanshould reallysee theircountry,andfinditwasnotatallthegrotesqueplacewhichfancypaintedit.

We are so far away that youdo not even imagineus, she said.

YouEnglish

have

read

that

there

was

an

Ivan

the

Terrible

and

a

Peter theGreat,who crushed through your Evelyns hedges, andwasagiantofsevenfoothigh!Manyofyoubelievewolvesprowlinthe streets at night, and that among the highest society Nihilists

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stalk, disguised as heaven knows what! While the suddendisappearance of amember of any great or small family canbeaccountedforbyanocturnalvisitofpolice,anda transportation in

chainsto

Siberian

mines!

Is

it

not

so,

Tamara?

Tamara laughed. Yes, indeed, she said. I am sure that iswhatAuntClara thinks now!Arewe not a ridiculously insularpeople,Marraine?

Shesaidthelastwordtimidlyandputoutherhand.MayIcallyouMarraine,Princess? she asked. I never knewmymother, and itsoundsnice.

Indeed, yes! thePrincess said, and she rose andkissedTamara.Yourmotherwasverydeartome,longago,beforeyouwereborn,wespentawildseason togetherofyouthandhappiness.YoushalltaketheplaceofmychildTamara,ifshehadlived.

Beforetheyhadfinisheddrinkingtheirtea,otherguestscameinatalloldGeneral inabeautifuluniform,and two ladies,oneyoungand the other old. They all spoke English perfectly, andwere so

agreeableand

sans

faon,

Tamaras

first

impression

was

distinctly

good.

Presentlysheheardtheelderladysaytohergodmother:

HaveyouseenGritzkosincehisreturn,Vera?Onehearshehasawildfitonand isatMilaslvwith therestof thewordswerealmostwhispered.Tamarafoundherselfunpleasantlyonthealerthow ridiculous, though, she thoughtGritzko!theremightbe a

dozenGritzkos

in

Petersburg.

No,hereturnstonight,PrincessArdcheffsaid;butIneverlistentothesetales,andasnomatterwhathedoesweallforgivehim,andlethim flyback intoourgoodgracesassoonashepursesup thathandsomemouthofhisitissuperfluoustomakecritiquesuponhisconductitseemstome!

Theladyappearedtoagreetothis,forshelaughed,andtheytalked

ofother

things,

and

soon

all

left.

AndwhentheyweregoneTonightIhaveoneortwoofmynicestfriendsdining, thePrincesssaid,whomIwishyou toknow,soI

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thought if you rested now youwould notbe too tired for a littlesociety, and she carried Tamara off to her warm comfortablebedroom,animmenseapartmentingorgeousEmpiretaste,andhere

wasagreat

bunch

of

roses

to

greet

her,

and

her

maid

could

be

seen

unpackingintheantichamberbeyond.

The company, ten or twelve of them, were all assembled whenTamara reached one of the great salons, which opened from thegalleries surrounding the marble hall. She came ina slenderwillowycreature,withagentlesmileofcontritionwasshelate?

Andthenthepresentationstookplace.Whatstruckherfirstwasthat

darkor

fair,

fat

faced

or

thin,

high

foreheads

or

low,

all

the

ladies

wore coiffes exactly the samethe hair brushed up from theforeheadandtightlyonduls.Itgavea lookofuniversaldistinction,but in some caseswas not verybecoming. Theywerebeautifullydressed in mourning, and no one seemed to have much of acomplexion,fromanEnglishpointofview,butbeforetheendoftheevening Tamara felt she had nevermetwomenwith such charm.Surely no other country could produce the same types, perfectlysimple in mannerperfectly at ease. Extremely highly educated,

withawide

range

of

subjects,

and

aknowledge

of

European

literaturewhichmustbeunsurpassed.Afterwardswhen sheknewthembettersherealizedthatherewasoneplaceleftinEuropewheretherewere noparvenues and no snobsor if therewere any, theywerebeautifullyconcealed.Suchabsolutesimplicityandcharmcanonly stay ina societywherenoone is tryingtoarrive,allbeingthere naturally by birth. There could be no room for the mtieradopted by several impecunious English ladies of titlethat offoistinganyone,howeverunsuitable,uponsocietyandtheirfriends

forawell

gilded

consideration.

InRussia,at least, it is theroundpeg intheroundhole.Nosquarepegwouldhaveachanceofadmission.Thustherearetheeaseandeleganceofonelargeandinterestingfamily.

It seemed to Tamara that each one was endowed with naturalfascination. They made no frais for her. There were nocompliments or gushing welcomes. They were just casual and

delightfuland

made

her

feel

at

home

and

happy

with

them

all.

They tookZacouska in ananteroom.Suchquantitiesof strangedishes! There seemed enough for a whole meal, and Tamara

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wondered how it would be possible to eat anything further! Atdinner she sat between a tall old Prince and a diplomat. Theuniforms pleased her and the glorious pearls of the ladies. Such

pearlsworthakings

ransom!

Thenshewasinterestedtoseethemanydifferentsortsofwine,andthe extreme richness of the food, and finally the shortness of themeal.

Theprettycustomof themenkissing thehostesshandas theyallleftthediningroomtogether,shefounddelightful.

Theywere

drinking

coffee

in

the

blue

salon,

and

most

of

the

party

hadretiredtothebridgetableslaidout,andTamara,whoplayedtoobadly, satby the firewithhergodmotherandanother lady,whensuddenlythedooropenedand,withanairofcompleteinsoucianceandassurance,PrinceMilaslvskicamein.

Iwant some coffee,Tantine,he said,kissing thePrincesshand,whilehenoddedtoeveryoneelse.Iwaspassingandsocameintogetit.

Gritzkobackagain! thewholecompanycried,and thePrincess,beaming upon him fond smiles, gave him the coffee, while shemurmuredhergladwelcome.

Thesocietynowbegantochaffhimastohisdoings,whichhetookwiththeutmostsangfroid.

ThatoldcatofaMarianneMariuskisetsaboutasusualoneofher

stories.Iam

having

an

orgie

at

Milaslv,

and

this

time

with

a

seraglioofEgyptianhouristhetruthbeingIonlybroughtbackbythemerestchanceonesmalltroupeofAlexandriandancers,andtwoperformingbears.Theymadeuslaughforthreedays,Serge,Sasha,andtherest!

Gritzko,willyouneverlearnwisdom,saidonelady,thePrincessShbanoff, plaintively, while the others all laughed. Were theypretty,andwhatweretheylike?theyasked.

Thebears?littleangels,especiallyFatima,andwiththemannersofPrincesses,andhebowedtoanoldladywhowassurveyinghimseverely through her pincenez, while she held her cards awry.

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Which remindsmewe are failing in ours,Tantine, you havenotpresentedmetotheEnglishlady,whois,Iperceive,astranger.

Duringall

this

Tamara

had

sat

cold

and

silent.

She

was

angry

with

herself that thismansentranceshouldcausehersuchemotionorrather commotion and sensation. Why should he make her feelnervous and stupid, unsure of herself, and uncertainwhat to do.Invariablyheplacedheratsomedisadvantage,and leftthesettlingof their relations tohimself.Whereasall such regulationsought tohavebeen in her hands.Now shewaswithout choice again, shecould only bow stiffly as her godmother said his name and hername, and PrinceMilaslvski took a chairby her side andbegan

makingpolitenesses

as

though

he

were

really

astranger.

Hadshejustarrived?DidshefindRussiaverycold?Wasshegoingtostaylong?etc.,etc.

ToallofwhichTamaraansweredinmonosyllables,whiletwobrightspotsofrosecolorburnedinhercheeks.

ThePrincewasastonishinglygoodlookinginhisCossacksuniform,

andhis

eyes

had

alaugh

in

them,

but

ashadow

round

as

if

bed

had

notseenhimforseveralnights.

Hiswholemanner toTamarawasdifferent fromany shade ithadformerlyworn. Itwas as if a courtlyRussianwerewelcoming anhonoredguestinhisauntshouse.

He did not mock or tease, or announce startling truths; he waspleasantandordinaryandserene.

HeandthePrincessArdcheffwerenorealbloodrelations;thefirstwife of her late husband had been his mothers sister, but thetraditionofaunthadgoneon in the familyand thePrincess lovedhimalmostasason.HehadalwayscalledherTantineasthoughshehadbeenhisrealaunt.

What did you think ofGritzkoMilaslvski, Tamara? she asked,whenalltheguestsweregone,andthetwohadretiredtoTamaras

room.He

is

one

of

the

dearest

characters

when

you

know

himbut

aterribletease.

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Heseemedverypleasant,Tamarasaidblankly,whileshepickedupabook.Eventospeakofhimcausedherunease.

Heis

not

at

all

the

type

of

an

ordinary

Russian,

the

Princess

continued.Hehas traveledsomuch,he issofin there isalmostaFrenchtouchinhim.Iamafraidyouwillfindouryoungmenratherdullasa rule.Theyareveryhardworkedat theirmilitaryduties,andhavenotmuchtimeforlesdamesdumonde.

No?saidTamara.Well,thewomenseemtomakeupforit.Ihavenevermetsomanycleverdelightfulones.

Itis

our

education,

the

Princess

said.

You

see

from

babyhood

we

learnmanylanguages,andthustheliteraturesofcountriesareopentousbeforewebegintoanalyzeanything,andEnglishespeciallyweknowwell,because in that language there are somanybooks foryounggirls.

In England, said Tamara, what may be given to young girlsseems to rule everything, no one is allowed a thought forherself,every idea almost isbroughtdown to thatdead levelone rebels

afterawhile

but

tell

me,

Marraine,

if

Imay

ask,

what

makes

them

allsotiredandgraylooking,thepeopleIhaveseentonightImean.Dotheysitupverylateatparties,orwhatisit?

In the season,yes,but it isnot that, it isour climateandourhotcloseduprooms,andtheimpossibilityoftakingproperexercise.Inthesummeryouwillnotknowthemforthesamefaces.

And then she kissed her goddaughter goodnight,butjust at the

doorshe

paused.

You

were

not

shocked

about

the

Alexandrian

dancers,Ihope,child?shesaid.Ifoneknew thetruth,theywerepoorpeoplewhowere starving,probably, andGritzkopaid themmoneyandhelpedthemoutofthekindnessofhisheartthosearethe sortof thingshegenerallydoes I findwhen I investigate, so Ineverpayattentiontowhathesays.

Tamara, left toherself,gazed into theglowingembersofherwoodfire.

IwonderIwonder,shesaid.Butwhatshewonderedshehardlydaredadmiteventoherself.

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CHAPTERVII

The next day was the last of the Russian old yearthe 13th of

Januarynew

styleand

when

Tamara

appeared

about

ten

oclock

in

hergodmothersownsittingroom,acharmingapartmentfullofthemost interesting miniatures and bibelots collected by the greatArdcheff, friend of Catherine II., she found the Princess alreadybusyatherwritingtable.

Goodmorning, my child, she said. You behold me up andworkingata timewhenmostofmy countrywomenarenotyet intheirbaths.Wekeep latehourshere in thewinter,while it isdark

andcold.

You

will

get

quite

accustomed

to

going

to

bed

at

two

and

risingatten;buttonight,ifitpleasesyoutofallinwithwhatisonthetapisforyou,Ifearitwillbeevenfourinthemorningbeforeyousleep.PrinceMilaslvskihastelephonedthathegivesapartyathishouseontheFontonka,todinefirstandthengoontoacaftoheartheBohemianssing.ItisapeculiarityoftheplacetheseBohemiansweshalldrinkintheNewYearandthengo.Itwillnotboreyou.No?Then it isdecided,andshepresseda lovely littleFabergerenamelbell which lay on the table near, and one of the innumerable

servants,who

seemed

to

be

always

waiting

in

the

galleries,

appeared. She spoke to him in Russian, and then took up thetelephonebyherside,andpresentlywasincommunicationwiththepersonshehadcalled.

Itisthou,Gritzko?Awake?Ofcoursesheisawake,andhereintheroom. Yes, it is arrangedwe dinenot until nine oclock?youcannotbe inbefore.Bon.Nowpromiseyouwillbegood.Indeed,yes.OfcourseanyEnglish ladywouldbeshockedatyouSo!I

tellyou

she

is

in

the

roompray

be

more

discreet,

and

she

smiled

atTamara,andthencontinuedherconversation.No,IwillnottalkinRussian,itisveryrude.Ifyouarenotcompletelysageatdinnerwe shallnotgo on. I am serious!Well,goodbye,andwith alaughthePrincessputthereceiverdown.

Hesaysnothingwouldshockyouhe issureyouunderstandtheworld!Well,wemustamuseourselves,and tryandrestrainhim ifhegrowstoowild.

Heisoftenwild,then?Tamarasaid.

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The Princess rose and stood by the window looking out on thethicklyfallingsnow.

Iam

afraida

littleyes,

though

never

in

the

wrong

situation;

above all thingsGritzko is a gentleman;but sometimes Iwish hewould take life lessasagame.Onecannothelpspeculatinghow itcanend.

Hashenofamily?Tamaraasked.

No, everyone isdead.Hismotherworshippedhim,but shediedwhen he was scarcely eighteen, and his father before that. His

motheris

his

adored

memory.

In

all

the

mad

scenes

which

he

and

his

companions,Iamafraid,haveenactedintheFontonkahouse,thereisonesetof roomsnoonehasdared toenterher roomsandhekeeps flowers there, and an everburning lamp.There is a strangetouchof sentimentandmelancholy inGritzko,andof religion too.SometimesIthinkheisunhappy,andthenhegoesofftohiscastleintheCaucasus or toMilaslv, andnoone seeshim forweeks.Lastyearwe hoped hewouldmarry a charming Polish girlhe quitepaidherattentionforseveralnights;buthesaidshelaughedoneday

whenhe

felt

sad,

and

answered

seriously

when

he

was

gay,

and

made crunchingnoiseswithher teethwhen she eatbiscuits!andhermotherwasfatandshemightgrowsotoo!Andfortheseseriousreasonshecouldnotfaceheratbreakfastfortherestofhislife!Thusthat came to an end.No one has any influence upon him. I havegivenuptrying.Onemustaccepthimasheis,orleavehimalonehewillgohisownway.

Tamarahadceasedfightingwithherselfaboutthe interestshetook

inconversations

relating

to

the

Prince.

She