"Then it is au revoir," he said, and kissing their hands he left them.
When the door was shut and they were alone.
"Tamara, what had you said to Gritzko to move him so?" the Princess
asked. "I, who know every line of his face, tell you I have not seen
him so moved since his mother's death."
So Tamara told her, describing the scene.
"My dear, you touched him in a tender spot," her godmother said. "His
mother was a saint almost to those people at Milasláv; they worshipped
her. She was very beautiful and very sweet, and after her husband's
death she spent nearly all her life there. She started schools to teach
the peasants useful things, and she encouraged them and cared for their
health; and her great wish was that Gritzko should carry out her
schemes. She was no advanced Liberal, the late Princess, but she had
such a tender heart, she longed to bring happiness to those in her
keeping, and teach them to find happiness themselves."
"And he has let it all slide, I suppose," Tamara said.
"Well, not exactly that," and the Princess sighed deeply; "but I dare
say these over gay companions of his do not leave him much time for the
arrangement such things require. 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."