Part 76 (1/2)

CHAPTER x.x.xV.

FACE TO FACE.

”Madame, permit me to present to you Count de Volaski, of St.

Petersburg--Count, the d.u.c.h.ess of Hereward,” said Lord C., with old-time courtesy and formality.

The gentleman bowed low; the lady courtesied; nothing but the close compression of his lips beneath the golden mustache, and the paler shade on her pale cheeks, betrayed the ”whirlwind of emotion” which swept through both their hearts; and these indications of disturbance were too slight to attract any attention.

Neither spoke, neither dared to speak. It was as much as each could do to maintain a conventional calmness through the terrible ordeal of such an introduction.

Lord C., happily unconscious of anything wrong, did the very best thing he could have done under the circ.u.mstances. Scarcely allowing the count and the d.u.c.h.ess time to exchange their bow and courtesy, he turned to her companion and said:

”Duke, the Count de Volaski. Count, the Duke of Hereward.”

Both gentlemen bowed; but _one_, the count, quivered from head to foot in the presence of his unconscious but successful rival.

”By the way, Count,” said the duke, pleasantly, ”the d.u.c.h.ess, when Mademoiselle de la Motte, pa.s.sed a year at the court of St. Petersburg with her parents. It is a wonder that you have not met before. Although, indeed, you may have done so,” he added, as with an after-thought.

”We have met before,” replied the Count de Volaski, in a low and measured tone.

”Of course! Of course! You are quite old friends,” said the duke, gayly.

Fortunately, then a diversion was made. The heavy, purple satin curtains vailing the arch between the drawing-rooms and dining saloon were drawn aside by invisible hands, and a very dignified and officer-looking personage, in a powdered wig, clerical black suit, and gold chain, appeared, and with a low bow and with low tones, said:

”My lord and lady are served.”

”Count, will you take the d.u.c.h.ess in to dinner?--Duke, Lady C. will thank you for your arm,” said the host, as, with a nod and a smile, he moved off in search of that particular amba.s.sadress whom custom, or etiquette, or policy, required him to escort to the dining-room.

The Duke of Hereward with a polite wave of the hand, left his d.u.c.h.ess in the charge of her appointed attendant, and went to meet Lady C., who was advancing toward him.

Count Volaski bowed, and silently offered his arm to the young d.u.c.h.ess.

She did not take it; she could not; she stood as one paralyzed.

He was stronger, firmer, calmer; perhaps because he really felt less than she did. He took her hand and drew it within his own, and led her to her place in the little procession that was going to the dining-room.

He placed her in her chair at the table, and took his seat at her side.

Then the self-control of their order, the self-control instilled as a virtue by their education, and standing now in the place of all virtues, enabled them to maintain a superficial calmness that conducted them safely through the trying ordeal of this dinner-table.

Count de Volaski entered freely into the conversation of the guests. The d.u.c.h.ess of Hereward spoke but little; hers was a pa.s.sive self-control, not an active one; she could force herself to be, or seem, composed; she could not force herself to talk; but her deep mourning dress was a good excuse for her extreme quietness, which was naturally ascribed to her recent and double bereavement.

The dinner was a long, long agony to her; the courses seemed almost endless in duration and numberless in succession; but at length the hostess arose and gave the signal for the ladies to retire and leave the gentlemen to their wine and politics.

The gentlemen all stood up while the ladies pa.s.sed out to the drawing-room.

Valerie would willingly have gone off to hide herself in some bay-window or other nook or corner of the vast drawing-room, and taken up a book or a piece of music as an excuse for her reserve; but as they pa.s.sed through the curtained archway leading from the dining-saloon to the drawing-room, Lady C., with the kindest intentions toward the supposed mourner, and with the motherly grace for which her ladys.h.i.+p was noted, drew Valerie's arm within her own and began a conversation, to draw her mind from the contemplation of her bereavements.

”What do you think of the young Russian count who brought you in to dinner, my dear?” inquired Lady C.