His Hour

The news was received with every sort of emotion,--surprise, chagrin,

joy, excitement, speculation, and there were even those among them who

averred they had predicted this marriage all along.

"Fortunately we like her," Countess Olga said. "She is a good sort, and

perhaps she will keep Gritzko quiet, and he may be faithful to her."

But this idea was laughed to scorn, until Valonne joined in with his

understanding smile.

"I will make you a bet," he said; "in five years' time they will still

be love-birds. She will be the only one among this party who won't have

been divorced and have moved on to another husband."

"You horribly spiteful cat!" Princess Sonia laughed. "But I am sure we

all hope they will be happy."

Meanwhile Jack Courtray had come in at once to see Tamara.

"Well, upon my word! fancy you marrying a foreigner, old girl!" he

said; "but you have got just about the best chap I have ever met, and I

believe you'll be jolly happy."

And Tamara bent down so that he should not see the tears which gathered

in her eyes, while she answered softly, "Thank you very much, Jack; but

no one is ever sure of being happy."

And even though Lord Courtray's perceptions were rather thick he

wondered at her speech--it upset him.

"Look here, Tamara," he said, "don't you do it then if it is a chancy

sort of thing. Don't go and tie yourself up if you aren't sure you love

him."

Love him!--good God!-Pent-up feeling overcame Tamara. She answered in a voice her old

playmate had never dreamed she possessed--so concentrated and full of

passion. In their English lives they were so accustomed to controlling

every feeling into a level commonplace that if they had had time to

think, both would have considered this outburst melodramatic.

"Jack," Tamara said, "you don't know what love is. I tell you I know

now--I love Gritzko so that I would rather be unhappy with him than

happy with any one else on earth. And if they ask you at home, say I

would not care if he were a Greek, or a Turk, or an African nigger, I

would follow him to perdition.--There!"--and she suddenly burst into

tears and buried her face in her hands.

Yes, it was true. In spite of shame and disgrace, and fear, she loved

him--passionately loved him.

Of course Jack, who was the kindest-hearted creature, at once put his

arm around her and took out his handkerchief and wiped her eyes, while

he said soothingly: "I say, my child--there! there!--this will never do," and he continued

to pet and try to comfort her, but all she could reply was to ask him

to go, and to promise her not to say anything about her outburst of

tears to any one.