ard him, careless of
passing hours and of Hugh's ill-concealed impatience of manner. As they
rose from the tea-table her cousin said laughingly--

"I protest against monopoly. I have not been able to say three words to my
lady-cousin."

"I yield the floor from necessity. My long journey has unfitted me for this
evening, and I must bid you all an early good night."

"Can I do anything for you, uncle?"

"No, thank you, Irene; I have a servant who thoroughly understands taking
care of me. Go talk to Hugh, who has been wishing me among the antipodes."

He shook hands with her, smiled kindly, and Mr. Huntingdon assisted him to
his room.

"Irene, come into the library and let me have a cigar."

"How tenacious your bad habits are, Hugh."

"Smoking belongs to no such category. My habits are certainly quite as
tenacious as my cousin's antipathies."

He selected a cigar, lighted it, and drawing a chair near hers, threw
himself into it with an expression of great satisfaction. "It is delightful
to get back home, and see you again, Irene. I felt some regret at quitting
Paris, but the sight of your face more than compensates me."

She was looking very earnestly at him, noting the alteration in his
appearance, and for a moment his eyes drooped before hers. She saw that the
years had been spent, not in study, but in a giddy round of pleasure and
dissipation; yet the bright, frank, genial expression of boyhood still
lingered, and she could not deny that he had grown up a very handsome man.

"Irene, I had a right to expect a warmer welcome than you deigned to give
me."

"Hugh, remember that we have ceased to be children. When you learn to
regard me simply as your cousin, and are satisfied with a cousin's welcome,
then, and not until then, shall you receive it. Let childish whims pass
with the years that have separated us; rake up no germs of contention to
mar this first evening of your return. Be reasonable, and now tell me how
you have employed yourself since we parted; what have you seen? what have
you gleaned?"

Insensibly he found himself drawn into a narration of his course of life.
She listened with apparent interest, making occasional good-humoured
comments, and bringing him back to the subject whenever he attempted a
detour toward the topic so extremely distasteful to her.

The clock struck eleven; she rose and said--

"I beg your pardon, Hugh, for keeping you up so late. I ought to have known
that you were fat