Page:The Tsar's Window.djvu/110

 Mr. Thurber had any lingering fondness for her, it would do no harm to let him know that there were rivals in the field.

He was silent for some minutes after I finished speaking; then,—

"Why have you such a prejudice against Count Piloff?"

"Prejudice!" I repeated, vexed at being accused of such weakness. "It is not a prejudice. But I dislike his manner; and the fact that he is a foreigner is against him. I should be very unhappy if any one whom I loved were to marry a foreigner."

"Then you would advocate your cousin's being faithful to her first love," dryly.

"Certainly. I do not understand how a woman can change in that way. It seems to me that if I loved a man once, I should love him forever; and the women who are in love with a new man every year are generally those with very little character," I added with excitement.

My companion smiled in a superior manner, but refrained from contradiction.

"Every one likes Count Piloff," he said, after a moment. "Why should you not agree with other people?"

"Do you like him?" I asked boldly.

Mr. Thurber did not seem in the least discomposed by my question, but answered unhesitatingly,—

"Yes; I think him an agreeable fellow, excellent company, and not much like a Russian."

"There spoke a prejudiced Englishman! I would