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And having taken the money from Tamara's hand, the priest blessed the thurible, which had been brought up by the psalmist, and began to walk around the body of the deceased with thurification. Then, having stopped at her head, he in a meek, wontedly sad voice, uttered: "Blessed is our God. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end!"
Next day they started, escorted to the station by a troup of gushing friends. Their compartment was a bower of flowers, and as each moment went by Tamara's equanimity was restored by the thought that she would soon be out of the land of her disgrace. It is a tiresome journey to Alexandria dusty and glaring and not of great interest.
"Why do we not see their tracks?" "They are obliterated in five minutes. You do not understand the Russian storm," he said. Tamara's heart now began to beat again rather wildly, but she reasoned with herself; she was no coward, and indeed why had she any cause for alarm? No one could be more aloof than her companion seemed.
So Valonne left to be in time for the ball, but this morning, he told me, he found Boris Varishkine had had a shoulder wound which bled very badly and quite prevented his coming, while Gritzko was shot through the flesh of the right arm, and as soon as they could bind it up decently, as you know, he came on." Tamara's face was as white as her pillow.
Before they had finished drinking their tea, other guests came in a tall old General in a beautiful uniform, and two ladies, one young and the other old. They all spoke English perfectly, and were so agreeable and sans façon, Tamara's first impression was distinctly good. Presently she heard the elder lady say to her godmother: "Have you seen Gritzko since his return, Vera?
You remember him, Suliman, at the Sphinx?" "Yes," said Tamara. "I had a little party to some of my friends, and we were rather gay not a party you would have approved of, but one which pleased us all the same and they dared me to ride Suliman from the stables to the big saloon." "And I suppose you did?" Tamara's voice was full of contempt.
"Olga" was little and plump, with an oval face and rather prominent eyes, but with a way of saying things which enchanted Tamara's ear. Her manner was casualness itself, and had a wonderful charm; and another thing struck her now that she saw them in daylight, not a single woman present and there were six or seven at least had even the slightest powder on her face.
Nor would she take the faintest further notice of the Prince, until they all went below to the evening meal. At dinner he seemed to be practically a stranger again. He was Tamara's neighbor, but he risked no startling speeches; in fact, he hardly spoke to her, contenting himself with discussing seafaring matters with the captain, and an occasional remark to Stephen Strong, who sat beyond Mrs.
Both their faces had been grave and solemn through all the vows and prayers, but afterward his had shone with a wild triumph. And as they had driven to his house on the Fontonka he had held Tamara's hand but had not spoken. It was a strange eventful moment when he led her up the great stairs between the rows of bowing servants up into the salons all decorated with flowers.
Always they suggested something Eastern, though on the whole he was fair. Tamara's own soft brown hair was only a shade lighter than his. She was not sure yet, but now thought his eyes were gray. She could have asked him a number of questions she wanted answered, but she refrained. He suddenly turned and looked at her full in the face.
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