Page:The Tsar's Window.djvu/262

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256
THE TSAR'S WINDOW.

with lamps. The hearse was drawn by six horses, with black blankets and plumes, and the coffin was covered with cloth-of-gold lined with ermine. The Emperor and grand dukes rode directly behind it, on horseback. Mourning coaches and more soldiers followed.

We drove away from the sad scene in sympathetic silence, made our way through the dreary streets, and were glad to reach our own door again.

I wonder why Mr. Thurber does not come. I wonder if he will come. It would seem rather hard on me if, after overcoming my reluctance, and making up my mind to accept him, he should not make his appearance. What an embarrassing situation that would be!


March 21.

To-morrow we start for Warsaw, on our way to Vienna. Judith is happy, for we are to stay a week in the Austrian capital, and there she will see Roger. She goes about the house with a smile on her face, and breaks out now and then into song; while I, to mark the contrast, grow daily more dismal.

Mr. Thurber has not come, neither have we received any word from him. I know that my friends attribute my melancholy to his non-appearance, and are pitying me in secret. Perhaps, after all, they are not so wrong; for while at first I felt a deep relief as day after day passed, and he did not appear, yet now I begin to be slightly chagrined, and to wonder if his heart has failed him, or if he has discovered that he does not care for me, as he supposed.