Six days went past before Tamara again saw the Prince. Whether he was
busy or kept away because he wished to, she did not know--and would not
ask--but a piqued sensation gradually began to rise as she thought of
him.
"I must arrange for you to go to Tsarsköi-Sélo to see the ceremony of
the Emperor blessing the waters on the 6th of our January, Tamara," her
godmother said, a day or two after the Bohemian feast. "I have seen it
so often, and I do not wish to stand about in the cold, but Sonia's
husband is one of the aides-de-camp, and, as you know, she lives at
Tsarsköi. Olga is going out there, and will take you with her, and you
three can go on; it will interest you, I am sure."
And Tamara had gladly acquiesced.
Tsarsköi-Sélo, which they reached after half an hour's train, seemed
such a quaint place to her. Like some summer resort made up of wooden
villas, only now they were all covered with snow. She and Countess
Olga had gone together to Princess Sonia's house, and from there to the
palace grounds, where they followed snow-cleared paths to a sort of
little temple near the lake, where they were allowed to stand just
outside the line of Cossacks and watch for the coming procession.
The sky was heavy, and soon the snow began to fall intermittently in
big, fluffy flakes. This background of white showed up the brilliant
scarlet uniforms of the escort. Standing in long rows, they were an
imposing sight. And Tamara admired their attractive faces, many so much
more finely cut than the guards further on. They wore fierce beards,
and they all seemed to be extremely tall and slim, with waists which
would not have disgraced a girl. And, at the end of the line at the
corner where they stood, she suddenly saw the Prince. He was talking to
some other officers, and apparently did not see them. Tamara grew angry
with herself at finding how the very sight of him moved her. The
procession, soon seen advancing, was as a lesser interest, her whole
real concentration being upon one scarlet form.
From the time the signal was given that the Emperor had started from
the palace all the heads were bare--bare in a temperature many degrees
below freezing and in falling snow! It was the Prince who gave the word
of command, and while he stood at attention she watched his face. It
was severe and rigid, like the face of a statue. On duty he was
evidently a different creature from the wild Gritzko of gipsy suppers.
But there was no use arguing with herself--he attracted her in every
case.