Tamara felt excited, and as ever his tone of
complete omnipotence annoyed her. At the same time to see him sitting
there, his eyes fixed with deep interest on her face, thrilled and
exalted her. Oh! she certainly loved him! Alas! and it would be
dreadfully difficult to say good-bye. But those three words in his
sentence stung her pride--"for the moment." Yes, there was always this
hint of caprice. Always he gave her the sensation of instability, there
was no way to hold him. She must ever guard her emotions and ever be
ready to fence.

And now that she had taken a resolve to go home, to linger no more, she
was free to tease him as much as she could. To feel that she could,
gave her a fillip, and added a fresh charm to her face.

"You think you can rule the whole world to your will, Prince," she
said.

"I can rule the part of it I want, as you will find," he retorted
fiercely. She made a pouting moue and tapped her little foot, then she
laughed.

"How amusing it would be if you happened to be mistaken this time," she
cooed. Then she rapidly turned to the Princess Sonia, who had just come
in, and they all talked of the great ball which was to take place in
the house in a week. The first after the period of the deep mourning.

"We cannot yet wear colors, but whites and grays and mauves--and won't
it be a relief from all this black," Princess Sonia said.

When they had all gone and Tamara was dressing for dinner, she felt