However, no petting seemed to revive Tamara.
"You have caught a thorough chill, I fear, dearest,"
the Princess said; and as they had missed their sleeping berths engaged
for the night before, and were unable to get accommodation on the train
again for the night, they were forced to remain in Moscow until the
next day, so the Princess insisted upon her godchild going immediately
to bed, while the rest of the party settled down to bridge.
"It is a jolly thing, a snowstorm!" Lord Courtray said to Gritzko.
"Isn't it? 'Pon my soul I have never enjoyed the smell of cows and hay
so much in my life!"
But upstairs in the stiff hotel bedroom Tamara sobbed herself to sleep.
CHAPTER XIX
The journey back to Petersburg passed in a numb, hopeless dream for
Tamara. She did her best to be natural and gay, but her white face,
pinched and drawn, caused her godmother to feel anxious about her.
Gritzko had bidden them goodbye at the train--he was going back to
Milasl?v to arrange for his and Jack's bear-hunt--and would not be in
the capital for two more days. That would be the Tuesday, and Tamara
was to leave on Wednesday evening by the Nord Express.
He had kissed her hand with respectful reverence as he said farewell,
and the last she saw of him was standing there in his gray overcoat and
high fur collar, a light in his eyes as they peered from beneath his
Astrakhan cap.
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