His Hour by Elinor Glyn
page 92 of 228 (40%)
page 92 of 228 (40%)
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At the bridge tournament he made no appearance whatever.
"Why do we see Prince Milaslávski so seldom when we go out, Marraine?" she asked her godmother one day. "I thought all these people were his intimate friends!" "So they are, dear; but Gritzko is an odd creature," the Princess said. "He asked me once if I thought he was an _imbécile_ or a performing monkey, when I reproached him for not being at the balls. He only goes out when he is so disposed. If some one person amuses him, or if he suddenly wants to see us all. It is merely by fits and starts--always from the point of view of if he feels inclined, never from the observance of any social law, or from obligation." "Why on earth do you put up with such manners?" Tamara exclaimed with irritation. "I do not know. We might not in any one else, but Gritzko is a privileged person," the Princess said. "You can't imagine, of course, dear, because you do not know him well enough, but he has ways and _façons_ of coaxing. He will do the most outrageous things, and make me very angry, and then he will come and put his head in my lap like a child, and kiss my hands, and call me 'Tantine,' and, old woman as I am, I cannot resist him. And if one is unhappy or ill, no one can be more tender and devoted." Then she added dreamily:--"While as a lover I should think he must be quite divine." Tamara took another cup of tea and looked into the fire. She was ashamed to show how this conversation interested her. |
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