His Hour

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."