make an excursion from there just for a night," and he looked at Tamara
with a lifting of the brows.

"Then, Tantine, she could see how I cow my peasants with a knout, and
grind them to starvation. It would be an interesting picture for her to
take back to England."

"I should enjoy all that immensely, of course," Tamara said,
pleasantly. "Many thanks, Prince."

"I shall be so honored," and he bowed politely; then, turning to the
Princess: "You will settle it, won't you, Tantine?"

"I will look at our engagements, dear boy. We will try to arrange it. I
can tell you at the ballet," and the Princess smiled encouragingly up
at him. "My godchild has not seen our national dancing yet, so we go
to-night with Prince Miklefski and Valonne."

"Then it is au revoir," he said, and kissing their hands he left them.

When the door was shut and they were alone.

"Tamara, what had you said to Gritzko to move him so?" the Princess
asked. "I, who know every line of his face, tell you I have not seen
him so moved since his mother's death."

So Tamara told her, describing the scene.

"My dear, you touched him in a tender spot," her godmother said. "His
mother was a saint almost to those people at Milasláv; they worshipped