life, I will select my lady myself."

"You _are_ tiresome!" Countess Olga said. When they got to the station
the Princess's coupé was waiting, as well as the Gléboff sleigh.

"Good-bye, and a thousand thanks for taking me," Tamara said, and they
waved as Countess Olga drove off. And then the Prince handed her into
the coupé and asked her if she would drop him on the way.

For some time after they were settled under the furs and rushing along,
he seemed very silent, and when Tamara ventured a few remarks he
answered mechanically. At last after a while:

"You are going to this bridge tournament at the Varishkine's, I
suppose?" he suddenly said. "It ought to be just your affair."

"Why my affair?" Tamara asked, annoyed. "I hate bridge."

"So you do. I forgot. But Tantine will take you, all the same. Perhaps,
if nothing more amusing turns up, I will drop in one night and see;
but--wheugh!" and he stretched himself and spread out his hands--"I
have been impossibly _sage_ for over a fortnight. I believe I must soon
break out."

"What does that mean, Prince--to 'break out'?"

"It means to throw off civilized things and be as mad as one is
inclined," and he smiled mockingly while some queer, restless spirit
dwelt in his eyes. "I always break out when things make me think, and
just now--in the train--when you looked at the sad country----"