"How you waste your life!" she said. "Oh! think to be a man, and free,
and a great landowner. To have thousands of peasants dependent upon
one's frown. To have the opportunity of lifting them into something
useful and good. And to spend one's hours and find one's pleasure in
such things as this! Riding one's favorite horse at the risk of its and
one's own neck, up and down the stairs. Ah! I congratulate you,
Prince!"
He drew himself up again, as if she had hit him, and the pain in his
eyes turned to flame.
"I allow no one to criticize my conduct," he said. "If it amused me to
ride a bear into this room and let it eat you up, I would not
hesitate."
"I do not doubt it," and Tamara laughed scornfully. "It would be in a
piece with all the rest."
He raised his head with an angry toss, and then they looked at each
other like two fighting cats, when fortunately the door opened, and the
Princess came in.
In a moment he had laughed, and resumed his habitually insouciant mien.
"Madame has been reading me a lecture," he said. "She thinks I am
wasted in the Emperor's escort, and a circus is my place."
Tamara did not speak.
"Why do you seem always to quarrel so, Gritzko?" the Princess said,
plaintively. "It really quite upsets me, dear boy."
"You must not worry, Tantine," and he kissed the Princess' hand. "We
don't quarrel; we are the best of friends; only we tell one another
home truths. I came this afternoon to ask you if you will come to
Milasláv next week. I think Madame ought to see Moscow, and we might
make an excursion from there just for a night," and he looked at Tamara
with a lifting of the brows.
"Then, Tantine, she could see how I cow my peasants with a knout, and
grind them to starvation. It would be an interesting picture for her to
take back to England."
"I should enjoy all that immensely, of course," Tamara said,
pleasantly. "Many thanks, Prince."
"I shall be so honored," and he bowed politely; then, turning to the
Princess: "You will settle it, won't you, Tantine?"
"I will look at our engagements, dear boy. 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."