His Hour

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.