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 Milasl?v; they worshipped
her. She was very beautiful and very sweet, and after her husband's
death she spent nearly all her life there. She started schools to teach
the peasants useful things, and she encouraged them and cared for their
health; and her great wish was that Gritzko should carry out her
schemes. She was no advanced Liberal, the late Princess, but she had
such a tender heart, she longed to bring happiness to those in her
keeping, and teach them to find happiness themselves."
"And he has let it all slide, I suppose," Tamara said.
"Well, not exactly that," and the Princess sighed deeply; "but I dare
say these over gay companions of his do not leave him much time for the
arrangement such things require.
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