Y. "Oh! Lebrun. To be sure! I heard
yesterday you were back. How did they treat you down in Mexique?"
"Fairly well." "But not well enough to keep you there. Stunning girls,
though, in Mexico. I thought I should never get away from Vera Cruz
when I was down
there a couple of years ago." "Did they embroider slippers and tobacco
pouches and hat-bands and things for you?" asked Edna. "Oh! my! no! I
didn't get so deep in their regard. I fear they made more
impression on me than I made on them." "You were
less fortunate
than Robert,
then." "I am always less fortunate than Robert. Has he been imparting
tender confidences?" "I've been imposing myself long enough," said
Robert, rising, and shaking hands with Edna. "Please convey my regards
to Mr. Pontellier when you write." He shook hands
with Arobin
and went away. "Fine fellow, that Lebrun," said Arobin when Robert had
gone. "I never heard you speak
of him." "I knew him last summer at Grand
Isle," she replied. "Here is that photograph of yours. Don't you want
it?" "What do I want with it? Throw it away." She threw it back on the
table. "I'm not going to Mrs. Merriman's,"
she said. "If you see her, tell her so. But perhaps I had better
write. I think I shall write now, and
say that I am sorry her child is sick, and tell her not to count on
me." "It would be a good scheme," acquiesced Arobin. "I don't blame
you; stupid lot!" Edna opened the blotter, and having procured paper
and pen, began to write the note. Arobin
lit a cigar and read the evening paper,
which he had in his pocket. "What is the date?" she asked. He told
her. "Will you mail this for me when you go out?" "Certainly." He read
to her little bits out of the newspaper, while she straightened things
on the table. "What do you want to do?" he asked, throwing aside
the paper. "Do you want t