Page:The Tsar's Window.djvu/85

 "Very well," interposed Tom. "It is one now. You can stay and lunch with us, and we will all go afterwards. Dorris told me yesterday that she was dying to see what they had in those old shops. I must see if Judy is up. Where is she?" and he hurried away before I could stop him.

George sat down near me, and, putting on his "society manner," which I particularly dislike, he said, "How did you enjoy your first Russian ball, Miss Romilly?"

"Very much."

"You seem rather depressed this morning," he continued, smiling at my doleful tone. "I hope it is not the effect of your gayety. The late hours which we keep are hard on foreigners at first, but one soon learns to sleep as well in the daytime as at night."

"I don't doubt it," I responded shortly.

He then launched forth into an account of the contrast between the balls at Vienna and those in Petersburg, which I felt he was doing to keep up the conversation. I tried to appear interested, and when Judith entered the room with Tom, she looked surprised to see us talking in such a friendly way. She cast a withering glance on me, and gave George one of her sweetest smiles.

Grace and luncheon were announced at the same time, but I could eat nothing; every mouthful choked me. Judith pointedly ignored my existence, and as pointedly devoted herself to George. She gave me several angry glances, and I sank further and further back in my chair, and felt that every one present