Page:The Tsar's Window.djvu/140

 his brother had, and that which he hoped to have in the course of years, all this was poured into my sympathetic ear. I inclined my head towards him, listening with an air of absorbed attention, and hardly stopping to taste the various articles which were placed before me. I presented the back of my head persistently to Mr. Thurber. I hardly looked away from the young Russian, and he neglected his other neighbor shamefully. Once or twice I cast a furtive glance at Judith; but she did not meet my eye. Once I caught George actually scowling at me; but he turned his eyes away quickly when I looked at him.

Towards the end of dinner, I concluded to see how Mr. Thurber bore my neglect; and, bracing up my courage to endure the sight of his wrath, I turned towards him. Grace was next on his other side, and then my friend, the ambassador. Mr. Thurber was sipping his champagne, and replying to some remark of the latter's.

"Undoubtedly, if the tax were put in that form, it would be more beneficial."

"What form?" I inquired.

He started. "I was discussing a subject of slight importance to you ladies," he answered calmly. "But I intended to ask you what you thought of this claret. I find it delicious."

"I have not noticed," I replied.

His manner was the reverse of annoyed. He seemed pleased with himself, with me, with every one, and, above all, with the claret. Decidedly, my plan for making him