His Hour

The company, ten or twelve of them, were all assembled when Tamara

reached one of the great salons, which opened from the galleries

surrounding the marble hall. She came in--a slender willowy creature,

with a gentle smile of contrition--was she late?

And then the presentations took place. What struck her first was that

dark or fair, fat-faced or thin, high foreheads or low, all the ladies

wore coiffées exactly the same--the hair brushed up from the forehead

and tightly ondulés. It gave a look of universal distinction, but in

some cases was not very becoming. They were beautifully dressed in

mourning, and no one seemed to have much of a complexion, from an

English point of view, but before the end of the evening Tamara felt

she had never met women with such charm. Surely no other country could

produce the same types, perfectly simple in manner--perfectly at ease.

Extremely highly educated, with a wide range of subjects, and a

knowledge of European literature which must be unsurpassed. Afterwards

when she knew them better she realized that here was one place left in

Europe where there were no parvenues and no snobs--or if there were

any, they were beautifully concealed. Such absolute simplicity and

charm can only stay in a society where no one is trying "to arrive,"

all being there naturally by birth. There could be no room for the

métier adopted by several impecunious English ladies of title--that

of foisting anyone, however unsuitable, upon society and their friends

for a well-gilded consideration.

In Russia, at least, it is the round peg in the round hole. No square

peg would have a chance of admission. Thus there are the ease and

elegance of one large and interesting family.

It seemed to Tamara that each one was endowed with natural fascination.

They made no "frais" for her. There were no compliments or gushing

welcomes. They were just casual and delightful and made her feel at

home and happy with them all.

They took "Zacouska" in an ante-room. Such quantities of strange

dishes! There seemed enough for a whole meal, and Tamara wondered how

it would be possible to eat anything further! At dinner she sat between

a tall old Prince and a diplomat. The uniforms pleased her and the

glorious pearls of the ladies. Such pearls--worth a king's ransom!

Then she was interested to see the many different sorts of wine, and

the extreme richness of the food, and finally the shortness of the

meal.

The pretty custom of the men kissing the hostess' hand as they all left

the dining-room together, she found delightful.