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Updated: May 1, 2025
And, horribly distressed, Jack did what she wished, running against Gritzko in the passage as he went out; but they had met before that day, so he did not stop, but, nodding in his friendly way, passed down the stairs. Tamara sat where he had left her, the tears still trickling over her cheeks, while she stared into the fire. The vision she saw there of her future did not console her.
Poor Tamara might as well have determined to keep the sun from rising as to keep herself from loving Gritzko. She was quite aware that men even the nicest men like Jack and her brother Tom, sometimes went out with people she would not care to know; but to have the fact brought under her very observation disgusted her fine senses.
But the instinct of her youth stopped her suicide was a sin, and while she did not reason, the habit of this belief kept its hold upon her. So an hour passed in silence, then the agonizing certainty came upon her that there must be an end. Her arm had grown numb. Strange lights seemed to flash before her eyes Yes, surely that was Gritzko coming toward her !
Now those who decided to continue the feasting all got into their waiting conveyances. With the thermometer at fifteen degrees Reaumur, a coachman's life is not one altogether to be envied in Russia, but apparently custom will make anything endurable. "I know you like the troika, Tamara," Princess Ardácheff said. "So you go with Olga and Gritzko and your friend only be sure you wrap up your head."
But when she was comfortably tucked into the top berth, and an hour or so later was just falling off to sleep, he knocked at the door, and the Princess believing it to be the ticket-collector opened it, and he put his head in. The shade was drawn over the lamp and the compartment was in a blue gloom. Tamara was startled by hearing her godmother say: "Gritzko! Thou!
Gritzko did not sit beside her. He took a chair and leant on a table near. "We had good sport," he said dryly. "Your friend can hit things. We got two bears." "Jack must have been pleased," Tamara answered dully. "And your family they arrive on Monday, isn't it?" he asked. "Your brother and sister and the estimable Mrs. Hardcastle?" and he laughed as he always did at the mention of Millicent.
Everything seemed in keeping with the buildings, and the semi-Byzantine scene with its Oriental note of picturesque grace. "Which will you choose to go in, Madame?" Gritzko asked. "Shall you be drawn by the blacks or the grays?" "I would prefer the blacks," Tamara replied. "I always love black horses, and these are such beautiful ones." And so it was arranged.
Then his ceremonious manner melted a little, and he again kissed his old friend's hand. "Dear Tantine, have no fears. I promise you it shall be for our happiness." The Princess was deeply moved. She knew there must be something underneath all this, but she was accustomed to believe Gritzko blindly, and she felt that if he gave his word, things must be right. She would ask no questions.
"They were coming down to see you; but now Gritzko has appeared we shall receive no attention, I fear," and she laughed happily, while the little boy came forward, and with beautiful manners kissed Tamara's hand. "You are an English lady," he said, without the slightest accent. "Have you a little boy, too?" Tamara was obliged to own she had no children, which he seemed to think very unfortunate.
There is a strange touch of sentiment and melancholy in Gritzko, and of religion too. Sometimes I think he is unhappy, and then he goes off to his castle in the Caucasus or to Milasláv, and no one sees him for weeks.
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