His Hour

"How you waste your life!" she said. "Oh! think to be a man, and free,

and a great landowner. To have thousands of peasants dependent upon

one's frown. To have the opportunity of lifting them into something

useful and good. And to spend one's hours and find one's pleasure in

such things as this! Riding one's favorite horse at the risk of its and

one's own neck, up and down the stairs. Ah! I congratulate you,

Prince!"

He drew himself up again, as if she had hit him, and the pain in his

eyes turned to flame.

"I allow no one to criticize my conduct," he said. "If it amused me to

ride a bear into this room and let it eat you up, I would not

hesitate."

"I do not doubt it," and Tamara laughed scornfully. "It would be in a

piece with all the rest."

He raised his head with an angry toss, and then they looked at each

other like two fighting cats, when fortunately the door opened, and the

Princess came in.

In a moment he had laughed, and resumed his habitually insouciant mien.

"Madame has been reading me a lecture," he said. "She thinks I am

wasted in the Emperor's escort, and a circus is my place."

Tamara did not speak.

"Why do you seem always to quarrel so, Gritzko?" the Princess said,

plaintively. "It really quite upsets me, dear boy."

"You must not worry, Tantine," and he kissed the Princess' hand. "We

don't quarrel; we are the best of friends; only we tell one another

home truths. I came this afternoon to ask you if you will come to

Milasláv next week. I think Madame ought to see Moscow, and we might

make an excursion from there just for a night," and he looked at Tamara

with a lifting of the brows.

"Then, Tantine, she could see how I cow my peasants with a knout, and

grind them to starvation. It would be an interesting picture for her to

take back to England."

"I should enjoy all that immensely, of course," Tamara said,

pleasantly. "Many thanks, Prince."

"I shall be so honored," and he bowed politely; then, turning to the

Princess: "You will settle it, won't you, Tantine?"

"I will look at our engagements, dear boy. We will try to arrange it. I

can tell you at the ballet," and the Princess smiled encouragingly up

at him. "My godchild has not seen our national dancing yet, so we go

to-night with Prince Miklefski and Valonne."