Ah! if you knew, Tamara," she went on,
"how fond I am of that boy, and how I feel the great and noble parts of
his character are running to waste, you would understand my grief."
"You are so kind, dear Marraine," Tamara said. "But surely he must be
very weak."
"No, he is not weak; it is a dare-devil wild strain in him that seems
as if it must out. He has a will of iron, and never breaks his word;
only to get him to be serious, or give his word, is as yet an
unaccomplished task. I sometimes think if a great love could come into
his life it would save him--his whole soul could wake to that."
Tamara looked down and clasped her hands.
"But it does not seem likely to happen, does it, Marraine?"
The Princess sighed again.
"I would like him to love you, dear child," she said; and then as
Tamara did not answer she went on softly almost to herself: "My brother
Alexis was just such another as Gritzko. That season he spent with me
in London, when your mother and I were young, he played all sorts of
wild pranks. We three were always together. He was killed in a duel
after, you know. It was all very sad."
Tamara stroked her godmother's hand.
"Dear, dear Marraine," she said.
Then they checked sentiment and went to dress for dinner, arm in arm.
They had grown real friends in these three short weeks.
CHAPTER X
The scene at the ballet was most brilliant, as it is always on a Sunday
night.
Pages:
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106