Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-03
CHAPTER Xiv.
At Vassilitzi's

At Vassitzi's
INTO my dreams came voices that l knew,
speaking in French, in low tones, which yet
reached my ears distinctly.
g think we should tell him; it IS not right
or just to keep him in ignorance"
mo, no, we must not tell him: we must
mott" Anne said softly but vehement1y. 1--WE
shall need him so sorely: there are so ve<y few
whom we can really trustl Besides, why should
we tell him? 1t would break his heart! For,
remember, we do not know"
They were not dream voices but real ones,
and as found that out felt I'd better let the
speakers. Anne and Loris, know was awake:
for had no wish to overhear what they were
saying, especially as l had queer intuition
that they were talking of me. So sat up under
the fur rug some one had thrown over me and
began to stammer out an apology in English.
The room was almost dark. and through the
window, with its heavy stone frame. saw the
last glow of a stormy sunset. Anne and Loris
stood there looking out. and as l moved and
spoke she broke off her sentence and came
toward me-
=" You have slept long. Maurice: that is well. p"
she said. also in English. with the pretty, de-
liberate accent had always thought so charm
ing. There is no need for apologies: we
should have reused you if necessary But all is
quiet so far. Will you come to my boudoir
presently? l will give you tea there. We have
scarcely had one word together as yet, and
there is so much to sayl l will send lights now:
you all you need"
Lors opened the door for her and crossed
back to his former post by the window, while
scrambled up. as scared looking. shamefaced
man servant entered with lamp and skunk out
again:
Those wretches They deserve the knout!"
Loris said grimly when we were alone. They
were all well armed. and yet at the first hint of
danger they took themselves into hiding. leav-
ing those two women defenseless here. Well,
hey u1l hay RI al nf hen o. uoc IN
future, the ours! The Countess is dead!' he
added abruptly.
Dead" exclaimed
Yes. Always. even in her madness, she re-
membered all she had suffered. and her terror
of being arrested again killed her. 1t is Gods
mercy for her that she is at peace: and for us
too, for we could not have taken her with us,
nor have left her in charge of Natalya and these
hounds, we had intended. We shall bury
her out in the courtyard yonder. 1t is the only
way, and later. if nothing prevents, we start
for the railroad"
Where is Pendennis?" asked. "Is he not
here?"
mo He may Join us later, cannot saw" he
answered. staring out of the window. 1 felt
that he was embarrassed in some way; that
there was something he wished to say. but
hesitated at saying it. That wasn't bit like
him; for he had always been the personifcation
of frankness
7 WONDER if there's bath to be had in the
house?" said namely, looking at my grimy
hands
Yes, in Vassilitzi's dressing room. The ser
want will take you up" he answered abstract
edly, and. as l moved toward the wide old
fashioned bell-pull by the stove he turned and
strobe after me-
Wait one moment" he said hurried1y.
Are you still determined to 60 through with
us? There is yet time to turn back, or rather
to go back to England. 1t would not be easy,
perhaps: but it would be quite possible for you
to get through, via Warsaw and Alexandrovo,
if you 60 at once"
why do you ask me that" 1 demanded,
looking at him very straight. His blue eyes
were more troubled than l had ever seen them.
:" Do you doubt me?"
mo, before God l trust you as l trust none
other in the world but Mishka and his father!
But you are stranger, foreigner why should
you throw your life away for us?'
Il have told you why before. Because l
value my life only so far as it may be of service
to-her. If left her and you now, as you sug-
gest, struggled myself back into safety Man,
it's not to be thought OFF,
well, l will urge you no more" he said
sadly: But you are sacrificing yourself for a
chivalrous delusion. my friend"
where's the delusion? l know she does not
love me, and am quite content"
Long after, knew what he had wished to tell
me then, and can't even now decide what I'd
have done if he had spoken, whether l should