Page:The Tsar's Window.djvu/186

 fast-waning day. The outer door opened; I paid no attention to it, but kept on watching the cheerless scene outside. Men and women in long, shapeless cloaks, each one looking exactly like the other, chins deeply buried in furs, eyes and noses alone visible; thousands of tiny sledges flying past; moujiks scraping the snow up; great flakes beginning to descend,—a sight rarely vouchsafed us here; and at length a funeral procession, the mourners all trudging through the snow, with their empty carriages following.

The door was opened, the portière pushed aside, and "Monsieur le Comte Piloff" was announced.

"You find me almost in the dark," I exclaimed. "If you will ring, I will order the lamps."

"Not unless you wish it."

"I am not fond of twilight generally; but let us wait till it is a little darker, for this obscurity just suits my present mood."

"Willingly"; and we seated ourselves, I in a large chair by the window, and George opposite me.

"I am the only member of the family in the house," I remarked quietly.

"I know it. I met them driving."

"They are paying visits; and Tom is getting the reputation of being a wit by the entertaining way in which he describes the freezing of my ear, which took place a few days ago. My misfortune was quite a blessing for him; it gives him a continual subject of conversation."

"Was it a serious freeze?"