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"Well, my child, I'll do my best," so he relinquished her for the next turn and left her with Valonne, who had just arrived. "Apparently I shall have to go partnerless for the Mazurka," Tamara carelessly said while she watched the Frenchman's face with the corner of her eye. "I was engaged for it to Count Varishkine, and he has never turned up. I do wonder what has happened to him. Do you know?"
And at last she said: "I am nervous, not for Count Varishkine, but for what you may have done." He leaned back and laughed with almost his old irresponsible mirth. "I can take care of my own deeds, thanks, Madame," he said. And then anger rose in Tamara beyond sympathy for pain. She sat silent, staring in front of her, the strain of the evening was beginning to tell.
The Royalties arrived in a gorgeous train, and yet neither Gritzko nor Count Varishkine. It might mean nothing, but it was curious all the same. The opening contre-danse was in full swing, and still they never came, and by the time of the second valse after it Tamara was a prey to a vague fear. While the Princess' uneasiness grew more than vague. Tamara could not enjoy herself.
What we see here in Petersburg are very much like us a trifling difference in the way the eyes are set, and the way the hair is brushed; and, given the same uniforms, half these smart young men might be our English Guards." "We do not resemble you in character, though," said Count Varishkine.
"Possibly. But one thing, Tantine, I will not be interfered with either by her friend the Englishman or Boris Varishkine." At this moment Tamara looked up and caught the two pairs of eyes fixed upon her. And into her spirit flowed a devilment. Duels! They were all nonsense. She should certainly play a little with her new friend.
"It appears, as far at I can gather, they all dined at the Fontonka house Boris Varishkine and Gritzko have always been great friends and at the end of dinner Valonne imagines, because no one is sure what took place between them at this stage Gritzko, it is supposed, said to Boris in quite an amiable way that he did not wish him to dance the Mazurka with you, but to relinquish his right in his Gritzko's favor."
In her whole life before she came to Russia she had never been really flirtatious. She was in no way a coquette, rather a simple creature who recked little of men. But the simplest woman develops feline qualities under certain provocation; and her pride was deeply hurt. Count Boris Varishkine asked nothing better than to fall in with her views.
He did not trouble to address her specially, and before the end of supper, in spite of rage and disgust and anger and shame, she was longing for him to talk to her. The only consolation she had was once when they went out, as she looked up sweetly at Count Varishkine she caught a fierce expression stealing over Gritzko's face.
"Will you take me as a substitute for your partner, Count Varishkine?" and he bowed with a courtly grace which seemed suited to the scene. "He is, I regret to say, slightly indisposed, and has asked me to crave your indulgence for him, and let me fill his place."
At the moment up came Count Boris Varishkine, and after a while she went off with him to a sofa by the window, and there was seated in deep converse when the Prince came in. He looked at them for a second and then made straight for the Princess Ardácheff, who was just about to arrange her rubber of bridge. "Tantine, I want to talk to you," he said.
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