"Then it is au revoir," he said, and kissing their hands he left them.

When the door was shut and they were alone.

"Tamara, what had you said to Gritzko to move him so?" the Princess

asked. "I, who know every line of his face, tell you I have not seen

him so moved since his mother's death."

So Tamara told her, describing the scene.

"My dear, you touched him in a tender spot," her godmother said. "His

mother was a saint almost to those people at Milasláv; they worshipped

her. She was very beautiful and very sweet, and after her husband's

death she spent nearly all her life there. She started schools to teach

the peasants useful things, and she encouraged them and cared for their

health; and her great wish was that Gritzko should carry out her

schemes. She was no advanced Liberal, the late Princess, but she had

such a tender heart, she longed to bring happiness to those in her

keeping, and teach them to find happiness themselves."

"And he has let it all slide, I suppose," Tamara said.

"Well, not exactly that," and the Princess sighed deeply; "but I dare

say these over gay companions of his do not leave him much time for the

arrangement such things require. Ah! if you knew, Tamara," she went on,

"how fond I am of that boy, and how I feel the great and noble parts of

his character are running to waste, you would understand my grief."

"You are so kind, dear Marraine," Tamara said. "But surely he must be

very weak."

"No, he is not weak; it is a dare-devil wild strain in him that seems

as if it must out. He has a will of iron, and never breaks his word;

only to get him to be serious, or give his word, is as yet an

unaccomplished task. I sometimes think if a great love could come into

his life it would save him--his whole soul could wake to that."

Tamara looked down and clasped her hands.

"But it does not seem likely to happen, does it, Marraine?"

The Princess sighed again.

"I would like him to love you, dear child," she said; and then as

Tamara did not answer she went on softly almost to herself: "My brother

Alexis was just such another as Gritzko. That season he spent with me

in London, when your mother and I were young, he played all sorts of

wild pranks. We three were always together. He was killed in a duel

after, you know. It was all very sad."




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