"I suppose you are staying for lunch?" she said in the same monotonous
voice. "Can I go now?--do you want to say any more?"
"Tamara!" he exclaimed, with entreaty in his tone, and then with quick
repression he bowed gravely and once more touched her hand with his
lips--ere he held open the door for her.
"I will be here when you return--I will await your pleasure."
So she left the room quietly. And when she was gone he walked wildly up
and down for a moment--then he bent and passionately kissed the cushion
she had leant on.
Tamara would learn what his love meant--when the day should come.
CHAPTER XX
The lunch passed off with quiet reserve--there was no one present but
Stephen Strong. Tamara endeavored to behave naturally and answered
Gritzko whenever he spoke to her. He, too, played his part, but the
tone of things did not impose upon Stephen Strong.
As they were leaving the diningroom, on the plea of finding something,
Tamara went to her room, and Gritzko took his leave.
"I will fetch you for the French plays tonight, Tantine," he said, "and
probably will come back to tea--tell Tamara," and so he left, and the
two old friends were alone.
They stirred their coffee and then lit cigarettes--there was an awkward
silence for a moment, and then the Princess said:
"Stephen, I count upon you to help us all over this.
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