"Think of the triumph you would have in a Hippodrome!"
He straightened himself suddenly, his great eyes flashed, and over his
face came a fierceness she had not guessed.
"I thought you had melted a little--here in our snow, but I see it is
the mummy there all the same," he said.
Tamara laughed. For the first time it was she who held the reins.
"Even to the wrappings,"--and she gently kicked out the soft gray folds
of her skirt.
He took a step nearer her, and then he stood still, and while the
fierceness remained in his face, his eyes were full of pain.
She glanced up at him, and over her came almost a sense of indignation
that he should so unworthily pass his time.
"How you waste your life!" she said. "Oh! think to be a man, and free,
and a great landowner. To have thousands of peasants dependent upon
one's frown. To have the opportunity of lifting them into something
useful and good. And to spend one's hours and find one's pleasure in
such things as this! Riding one's favorite horse at the risk of its and
one's own neck, up and down the stairs. Ah! I congratulate you,
Prince!"
He drew himself up again, as if she had hit him, and the pain in his
eyes turned to flame.
"I allow no one to criticize my conduct," he said. "If it amused me to
ride a bear into this room and let it eat you up, I would not
hesitate."
"I do not doubt it," and Tamara laughed scornfully.
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