“God give you a better mind then,” replied Mr. Welford.  “It is the best wish I can express for you.”

The two young men who were now at variance with each other had been friends for many years.  As they entered the world, the hereditary character of each came more fully into external manifestation, and revealed traits not before seen, and not always the most agreeable to others.  Edward Marston had his faults, and so had Herbert Arnest:  the latter quite as many as the former.  There was a mutual observation of these, and a mutual forbearance towards each other for a considerable time, although each thought more than was necessary about things in the other that ought to be corrected.  A fault with Marston was quickness of temper and a disposition to say unpleasant, cutting things, without due reflection.  But he had a forgiving disposition, and very many amiable and excellent qualities.  Arnest was also quick-tempered.  His leading defect of character was self-esteem, which made him exceedingly sensitive in regard to the conduct of others as affecting the general estimation of himself.  He could not bear to have any freedom taken with him, in company, even by his best friend.  He felt it to be humiliating, if not degrading.  He, therefore, was a man of many dislikes, for one and another were every now and then doing or saying something that hurt more or less severely his self-esteem.

Marston had none of this peculiar weakness of his friend.  He rarely thought about the estimation in which he was held, and never let the mere opinions of others influence him.  But he was careful not to do any thing that violated his own self-respect.

The breach between the young men occurred thus.  The two friends were in company with several others, and there was present a young lady in whose eyes Arnest wished to appear in as favourable a light as possible.  He was relating an adventure in which he was the principal hero, and, in doing so, exaggerated his own action so far as to amuse Marston, who happened to know all about the circumstances, and provoke from him some remarks that placed the whole affair in rather a ridiculous light, and caused a laugh at Arnest’s expense.

The young man’s self-esteem was deeply wounded.  Even the lady, for whose ears the narrative had been more especially given, laughed heartily, and made one or two light remarks; or, rather, heavy ones for the ears of Arnest.  He was deeply disturbed though at the time he managed to conceal almost entirely what he felt.

Marston, however, saw that his thoughtless words had done more (sic) than he had intended them to do, both upon the company and upon the sensitive mind of his friend.  He regretted having uttered them and waited only until he should leave the company with Arnest, to express his sorrow for what he had done.  But his friend did not give him this opportunity, for he managed to retire alone, thus expressing to Marston the fact that he was seriously offended.