The Prince was astonishingly good looking in his Cossack's uniform, and
his eyes had a laugh in them, but a shadow round as if bed had not seen
him for several nights.
His whole manner to Tamara was different from any shade it had formerly
worn. It was as if a courtly Russian were welcoming an honored guest
in his aunt's house.
He did not mock or tease, or announce startling truths; he was pleasant
and ordinary and serene.
He and the Princess Ardácheff were no real blood relations; the first
wife of her late husband had been his mother's sister, but the
tradition of aunt had gone on in the family and the Princess loved him
almost as a son. He had always called her "Tantine" as though she had
been his real aunt.
"What did you think of Gritzko Milaslávski, Tamara?" she asked, when
all the guests were gone, and the two had retired to Tamara's room. "He
is one of the dearest characters when you know him--but a terrible
tease."
"He seemed very pleasant," Tamara said blankly, while she picked up a
book. Even to speak of him caused her unease.
"He is not at all the type of an ordinary Russian," the Princess
continued. "He has traveled so much, he is so fin there is almost a
French touch in him. I am afraid you will find our young men rather
dull as a rule. They are very hard worked at their military duties,
and have not much time for les dames du monde."
"No?" said Tamara. "Well, the women seem to make up for it. I have
never met so many clever delightful ones."
"It is our education," the Princess said. "You see from babyhood we
learn many languages, and thus the literatures of countries are open to
us before we begin to analyze anything, and English especially we know
well, because in that language there are so many books for young
girls."
"In England," said Tamara, "what may be given to young girls seems to
rule everything, no one is allowed a thought for herself, every idea
almost is brought down to that dead level--one rebels after a while--
but tell me, Marraine, if I may ask, what makes them all so tired and
gray looking, the people I have seen tonight I mean. Do they sit up
very late at parties, or what is it?"
"In the season, yes, but it is not that, it is our climate and our hot
closed-up rooms, and the impossibility of taking proper exercise. In
the summer you will not know them for the same faces."