"I know a boy who lives
somewhere on the French Quay who is a case in point. His hair curls
naturally, especially on Sundays, and he plays bridge well, even for
a Russian, which is saying much. I don't think he has any other
accomplishments, but his family affection is really of a very high
order. When his maternal grandmother died he didn't go as far as to
give up bridge altogether, but he declared on nothing but black
suits for the next three months. That, I think, was really
beautiful."
The Princess was not impressed.
"I think you must be very self-indulgent and live only for
amusement," she said, "a life of pleasure-seeking and card-playing
and dissipation brings only dissatisfaction. You will find that out
some day."
"Oh, I know it turns out that way sometimes," assented Reginald.
"Forbidden fizz is often the sweetest."
But the remark was wasted on the Princess, who preferred champagne
that had at least a suggestion of dissolved barley-sugar.
"I hope you will come and see me again," she said, in a tone that
prevented the hope from becoming too infectious; adding as a happy
afterthought, "you must come to stay with us in the country."
Her particular part of the country was a few hundred versts the
other side of Tamboff, with some fifteen miles of agrarian
disturbance between her and the nearest neighbour. Reginald felt
that there is some privacy which should be sacred from intrusion.
THE RETICENCE OF LADY ANNE
Egbert came into the large, dimly lit drawing-room with the air of a
man who is not certain whether he is entering a dovecote or a bomb
factory, and is prepared for either eventuality.
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