Lord Courtray and I have
been brought up as brother and sister. We spoke of my home, which I may
never see again, and I told him what he was to say to them there when
they asked about me. If I have cried I am ashamed of my tears, and when
you speak and act as you have just done, it makes me ashamed of the
feeling which caused them."
He took a step nearer, he admired her courage.
"What was the feeling which caused them? Tell me, I must know,--" he
said; but as he spoke he chanced to notice she had replaced her wedding
ring, it shone below his glittering ruby.
"That I will not bear!" he exclaimed, and with almost violence he
seized her wrist and forcibly drew both rings from her finger, and then
replaced his own.
"There shall be no token of another! No gold band there but mine, and
until then, no jewel but this ruby!"
Then he dropped her hand and turning, threw the wedding ring with
passion in the fire!
Tamara made a step forward in protest, and then she stood petrified
while her eyes flashed with anger.
"Indeed, yes, I am ashamed I cried!" she said at last between her
teeth.
He made some restless paces, he was very much moved.
"I must know--" he began. But at that moment the servants came in with
the tea, and Tamara seized the opportunity while they were settling the
tray to get nearer the door, and then fled from the room, leaving
Gritzko extremely disturbed.
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