His Hour

"It did not look much like resistance last night," said Stephen Strong.

"And if Gritzko is only playing the fool, and means nothing serious,

then I think it is a shame."

"You don't suggest, surely, that I should interfere with fate?"

"Only to the extent of not giving him unlimited opportunities. You

remember that season in London--and your brother Alexis--and her

mother, and what came of that!"

The Princess put her hands up with a sudden gesture and covered her

eyes.

"Oh! Stephen! how cruel of you to bring it back to me," she said; "but

this is quite different--they are free--and it is my dearest wish that

Tamara and Gritzko should be united." Then she continued in another

tone. "I think you are quite wrong in any case. My plan is to throw

them together as much as possible--he will see her real worth and

delicate sweetness--and they will get over their quarrelling. It is her

reserve and resistance which drives him mad. Sometimes I do not know

how he will act."

"No, one can never count upon how he will act!" and Stephen Strong

smiled. "But since you are satisfied I will say no more, only between

you don't break my gentle little countrywoman's heart."

"You hurt me very much, Stephen!" the Princess said. "You--you--of all

people, who know the tie there is between Tamara and me. You to suggest

even that I would aid in breaking her heart."

"Dear Vera, forgive me," and he kissed her plump white hand. "I will

suggest nothing, and will leave it all to you, but do not forget a

man's passions, and Gritzko, as we know, is not made of snow!"

"You all misjudge him, my poor Gritzko," the Princess said, hardly

mollified. "He has the noblest nature underneath, but some day you will

know."

It was late in the afternoon when Tamara appeared, to find a room full

of guests having tea. Her mind was made up, and she had regained her

calm.

She would use the whole of her intelligence and play the game. She

would be completely at ease and indifferent to Gritzko and would be

incidentally as nice as possible to Jack. And so get through the short

time before she must go home. "For," she had reasoned with herself

sadly, "If he had loved me really he would never have behaved as he has

done."

So when the Prince and Lord Courtray came in together presently, her

greeting to both was naturalness itself, and she took Jack off to a

distant sofa with friendly familiarity, and conversed with him upon

their home affairs.