His Hour

"By Jove! you know, Tamara, you are awfully improved, my child," Lord

Courtray said, presently. "You've acquired some kind of a look in your

eye! If I wasn't so taken with that darling little Countess Olga I

should feel inclined to make love to you myself."

"You dear silly old Jack!" Tamara said.

It was Lord Courtray's fashion, when talking to any woman, even his own

mother, to lean over her with rather a devoted look. And Tamara

glancing up caught sight of Prince Milaslávski's face. It wore an

expression which almost filled her with fear. Of all things she must

provoke no quarrel between him and dear old Jack, who was quite

blameless in the affair.

At the same time there was a consolation in the knowledge that she

could make him feel.

She thought it wiser soon to rise and return to the general group,

while Jack, on his own amusement bent, now took his leave.

She sat down by Stephen Strong, she was in a most gracious mood it

seemed.

"You have heard of our excursion to Moscow, Mr. Strong," she said. "The

Princess says you must come too, I am looking forward to it immensely."

"We ought to have a most promising time in front of us," that old cynic

replied, while he puffed rings of smoke. "It all should be as full of

adventure as an egg is full of meat!"

"I have been reading up the guide books, so as to be thoroughly learned

and teach Jack--he is so terribly ignorant always, worse than Tom!" and

she laughed.

"We must try and see the whole show, and if the snow lasts, as it

promises to do, we should have a delightful time."

"Gritzko," Princess Ardácheff said. "How many versts is it from Moscow

to Milasláv?"

The Prince had been leaning on the mantlepiece without speaking for

some moments, listening to Tamara's conversation, but now he joined in,

and sinking into a chair beside her, answered from there.

"Thirty versts, Tantine--we shall go in troikas--but you must send your

servants on the night before."

Then he turned to Tamara, who seemed wonderfully absorbed, almost

whispering to Stephen Strong. "Did you sleep well, Madame?" he said.

There was an expression of mocking defiance in his glance, which

angered Tamara. However, faithful to her resolutions, she kept herself

calm.

"Never better, thank you, Prince. It was a most interesting evening,

and I am learning the customs of the country," she said. "The thing

which strikes me most is your wonderful chivalry to women--especially

strange women."