To Mrs. Murray’s great chagrin and mortification her son had positively declined going to meet his cousin, had been absent since breakfast, and proved himself shamefully derelict in the courtesy demanded of him.  It was almost dark when the quick gallop of his horse announced his return, and, as he passed the window on his way to the stables, Edna noticed a sudden change in Estelle’s countenance.  During the next quarter of an hour her eyes never wandered from the door, though her head was turned to listen to Mrs. Murray’s remarks.  Soon after, Mr. Murray’s rapid footsteps sounded in the hall, and as he entered she rose and advanced to meet him.  He held out his hand, shook hers vigorously, and said, as he dropped it: 

“Mine ancient enemy, declare a truce and quiet my apprehensions; for I dreamed last night that, on sight, we flew at each other’s throats, and renewed the sanguinary scuffles of our juvenile acquaintance.  Most appallingly vivid is my recollection of a certain scar here on my left arm, where you set your pearly teeth some years ago.”

“My dear cousin, as I have had no provocation since I was separated from you, I believe I have grown harmless and amiable.  How very well you look, St. Elmo.”

“Thank you.  I should like to return the compliment, but facts forbid.  You are thinner than when we dined together in Paris.  Are you really in love with that excruciating Brummell of a Count who danced such indefatigable attendance upon you?”

“To whom do you allude?”

“That youth with languishing brown eyes, who parted his ’hyacinthine tresses’ in the middle of his head; whose moustache required Ehrenberg’s strongest glasses—­and who absolutely believed that Ristori singled him out of her vast audiences as the most appreciative of her listeners; who was eternally humming ‘Ernani’ and raving about ‘Traviata.’  Your memory is treacherous—­as your conscience?  Well, then, that man, who I once told you reminded me of what Guilleragues is reported to have said about Pelisson, ’that he abused the permission men have to be ugly.’”

“Ah! you mean poor Victor!  He spent the winter in Seville.  I had a letter last week.”

“When do you propose to make him my cousin?”

“Not until I become an inmate of a lunatic asylum.”

“Poor wretch!  If he only had courage to sue you for breach of promise, I would, with pleasure, furnish sufficient testimony to convict you and secure him heavy damages; for I will swear you played fiancee to perfection.  Your lavish expenditure of affection seemed to me altogether uncalled for, considering the fact that the fish already floundered at your feet.”

The reminiscence evidently annoyed her, though her lips smiled, and Edna saw that, while his words were pointed with a sarcasm lost upon herself, it was fully appreciated by his cousin.

“St. Elmo, I am sorry to see that you have not improved one iota; that all your wickedness clings to you like Sinbad’s burden.”