His Hour

He saw it, too, and with an impatient exclamation of annoyance he moved

back and disappeared in the crowd. The rest of the ball for Tamara was

a ghastly blank, although they kept it up with immense spirit until

very late.

She seemed unable to get near the Princess, she was always surrounded,

and when at last she did come upon her in deep converse with Valonne.

"Tamara, dear," she said, "you must be so dreadfully tired. Slip off to

bed. They will go on until daylight," and there was something in her

face which prevented any questions.

So, cold and sick with apprehension, poor Tamara crept to her room,

and, dismissing her weary maid, sat and rocked herself over her fire.

What horrible thing had occurred?

What was the meaning of that thin stream of blood?