Then the clock on the mantlepiece chimed one, and she started to her
feet.

"Oh! Prince, should we not be thinking of supper," she said. "Come, let
us forget we have been serious and go back and eat!"

He rose.

"They have probably gone in without us, they know me so well," he said;
"but as you say, we will no more be serious, we will laugh."

Then he took her hand, and merrily, like two children, they ran through
all the big empty rooms to find exactly what he had predicted had
occurred. The party were at supper quite unconcerned!

It was such a gay scene. Princess Sonia and Serge Grekoff were busily
cutting raw ham, by their places; while others drank tea or vodka or
champagne, or helped themselves from various dishes the servants had
brought up. There was no ceremony or stiffness, each one did as he
pleased.

And there sitting by Olga Gléboff, already perfectly at home, was Lord
Courtray; and further down the Princess Ardácheff sat by Stephen
Strong.

"Gritzko--we could not wait!" Countess Olga said.

Then both the Englishmen got up and greeted Tamara.