Page:The Tsar's Window.djvu/245

 No, they had found no one at home.

"My mail has come," Tom vouchsafed to remark, after a moment.

"Well?" I said inquiringly.

"I must go to America in May, instead of remaining here till the end of the summer, and if you and Grace wish to see Italy, we must leave Petersburg by the middle of this month. Even then we shall be hurried."

George did not wait to hear my comments, but walked quietly out of the room. Tom busied himself with some papers, and I sat and thought,—thought of going home; and was amazed that no thrill of joy ran through me, but that, on the contrary, there was a faint, dull disappointment in my heart.

In the midst of these meditations, the door opened, and Mr. Novissilsky was announced! I could hardly believe my eyes. Tom, of course, rushed forward to meet him, but I turned my back to the room, and became engrossed in the street scenes outside. It was only when my brother-in-law called my name that I looked at the intruder, and bowed coldly. This is the first time I have come in contact with him since that night at the theatre.

Tom evidently thought my manner odd, but he simply said he would call Grace, and left us. I knew that he would return immediately, but this was too good a chance to be lost, and I determined to let Mr. Sacha Novissilsky know what I thought of him. Fixing upon him a steady look, the contempt of which should have scorched him, I said slowly, "I wonder that you can