"It did not look much like resistance last night," said Stephen Strong.
"And if Gritzko is only playing the fool, and means nothing serious,
then I think it is a shame."
"You don't suggest, surely, that I should interfere with fate?"
"Only to the extent of not giving him unlimited opportunities. You
remember that season in London--and your brother Alexis--and her
mother, and what came of that!"
The Princess put her hands up with a sudden gesture and covered her
eyes.
"Oh! Stephen! how cruel of you to bring it back to me," she said; "but
this is quite different--they are free--and it is my dearest wish that
Tamara and Gritzko should be united." Then she continued in another
tone. "I think you are quite wrong in any case. My plan is to throw
them together as much as possible--he will see her real worth and
delicate sweetness--and they will get over their quarrelling. It is her
reserve and resistance which drives him mad. Sometimes I do not know
how he will act."
"No, one can never count upon how he will act!" and Stephen Strong
smiled. "But since you are satisfied I will say no more, only between
you don't break my gentle little countrywoman's heart."
"You hurt me very much, Stephen!" the Princess said. "You--you--of all
people, who know the tie there is between Tamara and me. You to suggest
even that I would aid in breaking her heart."
"Dear Vera, forgive me," and he kissed her plump white hand. "I will
suggest nothing, and will leave it all to you, but do not forget a
man's passions, and Gritzko, as we know, is not made of snow!"
"You all misjudge him, my poor Gritzko," the Princess said, hardly
mollified. "He has the noblest nature underneath, but some day you will
know."
It was late in the afternoon when Tamara appeared, to find a room full
of guests having tea. Her mind was made up, and she had regained her
calm.
She would use the whole of her intelligence and play the game. She
would be completely at ease and indifferent to Gritzko and would be
incidentally as nice as possible to Jack. And so get through the short
time before she must go home. "For," she had reasoned with herself
sadly, "If he had loved me really he would never have behaved as he has
done."
So when the Prince and Lord Courtray came in together presently, her
greeting to both was naturalness itself, and she took Jack off to a
distant sofa with friendly familiarity, and conversed with him upon
their home affairs.