Page:The Tsar's Window.djvu/81

 on me. "I thought the ambassador was much more attentive than was proper!"

"Oh!" I sighed, "he has a large wife and grown-up sons. Judith," leaning my elbows on the table, and taking my chin in both hands, "you know Sacha is in love with you. Why don't you take the poor fellow?"

"He has never asked me," she answered dreamily, looking into the fire. "Besides, I don't like him."

"Why not?" I snapped the words out, full of a righteous indignation, and ready to defend my favorite.

"He looks so sentimental, and as if he were going to weep; and he watches me in such a way that it makes me nervous."

I leaned back in my chair, and, following Judith's example, looked meditatively into the fire. "It is true," I said slowly, "that he is somewhat irritating sometimes. But," I added with renewed vigor, "he is a thoroughly good fellow."

"I can't marry a man simply because he is good."

Then my ire was fully roused, and I looked at her with a glance which was meant to carry terror to her soul. It was lost on her, however, for she was still looking into the fire. "Can you marry a man simply because he is bad?"

"No," she answered calmly. "I don't think I could fall in love with a bad man." She looked at me curiously, came over by my chair, and sat down beside me on the floor, resting her head against my knee, and fondling my hand. "How solemn you are to-day, and how very unpleasant, dear!"