Page:The Writings of Prosper Merimee-Volume 5.djvu/256

234 with the Countess, she saw him once more standing near the door. His fur collar was turned up and she could only see his bold black eyes looking intently at her. Lisabeta felt frightened without knowing why, and took her seat in the carriage in fear and trembling.

On her return to the house, she flew to the window, her heart beating wildly; the ofiicer was in his usual place, gazing at her with ardent glances. She drew back immediately, a prey to curiosity, and wondered at the strange feeling in her whole being, which she experienced for the first time in her life.

After this not a day went by without the officer appearing in the street, and very soon there was a mute understanding between them. Seated at the window, she could feel his pres- ence and every time she looked up she allowed her glance to rest on him a little longer. The young fellow seemed very grateful for such an innocent favour; she noticed with the quick per- ception of youth that a deep glow suffused his brow every time their eyes met. By the end of a week, she smiled.

When Tomski asked his grandmother to be allowed to present one of his friends, the poor girl's heart beat to suffocation, and when she heard that Naroumof was in the Horse Guards,