His Hour

Then he paused, and there was a wonderful silence, and when he went on,

his tones were full of a great tenderness.

"Little one, in these rooms, some day I will make you happy."

Tamara trembled so she could hardly stand, the reaction from her misery

was so immense. She swayed a little and put out her hand to steady

herself by the back of a chair. He thought she was going to fall,

seeing her so white, and he put his arm round her as he led her through

the room and into the sitting-room, and then beyond again to a little

sanctuary. Here a lamp swung before the Ikon, and the colors were

subdued and rich, while the virgin's soft eyes looked down upon them.

There were fresh lilies, too, in a vase below, and their scent perfumed

the air. He knelt for a second and whispered a prayer, then he rose,

and they looked into each other's eyes--and their souls met--and all

shadows rolled away.

"Tamara!" he said, and he held out his arms--and with a little

inarticulate cry almost of pain Tamara fell into them--and he folded

her to his heart--while he bent and kissed her hair.

Then he held her from him and looked deep into

her eyes.

"Sweetheart--am I forgiven?" he asked, and when she could speak she

answered: "Yes--you are forgiven."

Then he questioned again.

"Tamara, do you love me?"

But he saw the answer in her sweet face, and did not wait for her to

speak, but kissed her mouth.

Then he lifted her in his arms like a baby and carried her back through

the ghostly rooms to his warm human sitting-room, and there he laid her

tenderly down upon the couch and knelt beside her.

"Oh, my heart," he said. "What this time has been--since you promised

to marry me!--but I would not change it--I wanted you to love me beyond

everything--beyond anger with me, beyond--fear--beyond your pride. Now

tell me you do. My sweet one. Moia Doushka. I must know. I must know.

You mean my life--tell me?"

And passion overcame Tamara, and she answered

him in a low voice of vibrating emotion.

"Gritzko! do you think I care for what you have done or will do! You

know very well I have always loved you!" And she put up her mouth for

him to kiss her. Then he went quite mad for a few moments with joy--he

caressed her as even on the dawn-drive she had never dreamed, and

presently he said with deep earnestness.