Page:The Tsar's Window.djvu/174

 my heart again, and stayed there. My companion asked me if I felt ill. No, I said; but I was tired. So I was, very tired.

The ambassador took me in to supper. There were three supper-rooms. In the largest the imperial table was spread; also two others, at one of which we took our places. And there were two bands, which played alternately during supper. The music was sad, and I could hardly swallow a mouthful. We ate off massive gold and silver; the wine stood in coolers of beautiful silver filagree; the glass was exquisite Bohemian. The Emperor did not sup, but walked about, and talked with many of his guests. Three thousand people, seated, without crowding, at a hot supper served on Sèvres and silver dishes, was a truly imperial entertainment. But I was not in a fit state of mind to appreciate this magnificence.

I had seen none of my party since the first of the evening, and after supper I made a thorough search of the ball-room, but without success. At last the ambassador proposed to leave me in a certain spot and go by himself to look for Alice. He had not been gone long when a servant offered me some hot punch. As I was drinking it, George's voice close beside me said,—

"At last, Miss Romilly, I have found you! I have been looking everywhere for you."

Something, I know not what, perhaps a tone of heartiness or sincerity in his voice, sent a pang of regret and incredulity through me. I felt the tears rush in a blinding mist to my eyes as I lifted them to his without