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Faunt’s the best of us, he and Cinda.”
    â€œAnd I know Mr. Streean,” she reminded him, and smiled at the memory. “He brought you and that handsome son of his to call on me once; remember? You were horribly embarrassed.”
    â€œDamned awkward business. He asked if I knew you, and I’d have denied it; but I couldn’t well say I didn’t know my own brother’s mother-in-law. So I said I hadn’t known you were in Richmond.”
    â€œThus damning me, once and for all.”
    â€œWhy?” He looked at her in dull interest.

    â€œBut obviously, if your family and your brother’s wife’s mother weren’t on terms! Don’t be an innocent, my dear!” She added: “Darrell Streean has been a devoted caller ever since. Of course he saw the truth about you and me at once, and I suppose that made him think me fair game.”
    â€œInsulting young blackguard!”
    â€œOh, no woman in her forties is ever insulted by the flattery of a dashing youngster in his teens—no matter how frankly dishonorable his intentions.”
    â€œDarrell was at Merrihay’s tonight,” he commented. “Tried to borrow from me. He takes after his father. Worthless rascal.”
    â€œYou dislike Mr. Streean?” He made a scornful sound and she said provokingly: “He calls quite often. He was here only a week ago, with three other gentlemen, discussing their eternal politics, growing noisy over their own opinions—and my brandy.”
    â€œStreean’s a scoundrel—but he lacks courage to follow his bent.” Tony laughed shortly. “You know, it was I who introduced him to Tilda, but it never occurred to me she’d marry him! She’s had time to be sorry.”
    She said in a light amusement: “He and the gentlemen he brings here—well, I always air the curtains after they’ve gone.”
    He stared at the flames. Outside the quiet room a belated horseman passed at a foot pace along the dusty road. The thudding hoof beats were louder as he drew near, softer as he departed. The fire crackled, and Tony rose to step upon a spark. He filled his glass, ate a pecan meat, sat down again.
    â€œFunny that you and I’ve got along all these years, Nell,” he reflected. “Most people soon get their fill of me. Dislike me. Specially men.” She wondered what had produced this mood in him. “Always been that way,” he insisted, as though she had denied it; and he went on: “I was a spoiled young one, the first baby. After me there were two who died; and that made Papa and Mama the more tender with me. Then when I was eight Trav was born. He took some of their attention away from me, so I hated him. I remember once Mama hushed me for fear I’d wake him from his nap, and I went out and cut a hickory switch and whipped one of the nigger boys till his yells woke Trav. Old Mammy May thought it was pretty cute of me to be
so jealous of my baby brother. I’m afraid Mama agreed with her.” He said in heavy wonder at the flight of time: “That was over forty years ago.”
    She thought, listening to his maundering: Why, he’s an old man! And I’ve had ten, yes eleven years of him! And Heavens, I’m forty-seven myself!
    â€œYes, I was a despisable young one.” She saw that he took a perverted pleasure in the fact. “After Trav, there was Cinda, and Tilda, and Faunt. I was crowded more and more into the background, so I raised Cain. I used to carry a riding crop and slash at every nigger who crossed my path. They laughed and dodged my blows and kept out of my way. Except the wenches. They didn’t avoid me. I suppose my attentions flattered them.”
    If talk was all he wanted, let him talk! He went on with a sour relish.
    â€œOh, I was a hellion! I took up with the son of the overseer on the next place. We used to steal whiskey from the sideboard. Papa and old Mose kept it