“Then, for the first time in my life, I have succeeded in slandering human nature! which, hitherto, I deemed quite impossible.  Peccavi, peccavi!  O my race!  And she absolutely, positively declines to sell herself?  I am unpleasantly startled in my pet theories concerning the cunning, lynx selfishness of women, by this feminine phenomenon!  Why, I would have bet half my estate on Gordon’s chances; for his handsome face, aided by such incomparable coadjutors as my mother here and the infallible sage and oracle of the parsonage constituted a ‘triple alliance’ more formidable, more invincible, than those that threatened Louis XIV. or Alberoni!  I imagined the girl was clay in the experienced hands of matrimonial potters, and that Hebrew strategy would prove triumphant!  Accept, my dear mother, my most heartfelt sympathy in your ignominious defeat.  You will not doubt the sincerity of my condolence when I confess that it springs from the mortifying consciousness of having found that all women are not so entirely unscrupulous as I prefer to believe them.  Permit me to comfort you with the assurance that the campaign has been conducted with distinguished ability on your part.  You have displayed topographical accuracy, wariness, and an insight into the character of your antagonist, which entitle you to an exalted place among modern tacticians; and you have the consolation of knowing that you have been defeated most unscientifically, and in direct opposition to every well-established maxim and rule of strategy, by this rash, incomprehensible, feminine Napoleon!  Believe me—­”

“Hush, St. Elmo!  I don’t wish to hear anything more about the miserable affair.  Edna is very obstinate and exceedingly ungrateful after all the interest I have manifested in her welfare, and henceforth I shall not concern myself about her future.  If she prefers to drudge through life as a teacher, I shall certainly advise her to commence as soon as possible; for if she can so entirely dispense with my counsel, she no longer needs my protection.”

“Have you reasoned with her concerning this singular obliquity of her mental vision?”

“No.  She knows my wishes, and since she defies them, I certainly shall not condescend to open my lips to her on this subject.”

“Women arrogate such marvellous astuteness in reading each other’s motives, that I should imagine Estelle’s ingenuity would furnish an open sesame to the locked chamber of this girl’s heart, and supply some satisfactory explanation of her incomprehensible course.”

Mr. Murray took his cousin’s hand and drew her to a seat beside him on the sofa.

“The solution is very easy, my dear cynic.  Edna can well afford to decline Gordon Leigh’s offer when she expects and manoeuvres to sell herself for a much higher sum than he can command.”

As Miss Harding uttered these words, Mrs. Murray turned quickly to observe their effect.

The cousins looked steadily at each other, and St. Elmo laughed bitterly, and patted Estelle’s cheek, saying: