CHAPTER XVIII 



CONCLUSION 



The sundry contemplation of my travel. 



As You Like It. 



Twenty adieus my frozen Muscovites. 



Love's Labour's Lost. 



Before leaving Tiflis for home we indulged in a perfect 

 orgy of dissipation, for " the Season " had begun, 

 and nightly dances attracted us as a honey-pot does 

 flies. Such gay scenes, with a glittering allurement all 

 their own. Gorgeously-uniformed warriors converted 

 themselves into myriads by the aid of reflecting mir- 

 rors placed everywhere about the great rooms — there 

 seemed no end to the gallants. The ladies were all 

 in up-to-date ball-dresses, the beautiful national dress 

 of the Georgians was ousted by Parisian and Viennese 

 models. 



The etiquette of Tifiisian ballrooms is much the 

 same as our own, save that it does not permit a man 

 to dance more than once of an evening with the same 

 lady, however much he may long to do so. Kenneth 

 asked me whether he ought to sustain the custom of 

 the country and spoil his pleasure, or throw convention 

 to the winds and enjoy himself. I was all for upholding 

 custom, but Cecily reminded me that customs curtsy 



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