'So here you are!' Edmund's voice broke in upon the stillness.
Oswald started and turned round, to behold the young Count standing in the doorway. Edmund went up to him now quickly, and continued, in a reproachful tone:
'You seem to look upon yourself quite in the light of a guest to-day! You turn your back on the company and devote yourself to a quiet inspection of these camellias, instead of helping me to do the honours of the house.'
A moment had sufficed to restore to Oswald his wonted calm, but there was a lurking bitterness in his tone as he replied:
'That, I imagine, is your business exclusively. Are you not the hero of the day?'
'No doubt, in a double capacity,' replied Edmund lightly. 'As a man coming into his property, and a man about to be married. In this last quality, I have to read you a lecture. You have omitted to ask Hedwig for a dance; yet you might have foreseen that she would be besieged by petitions on all sides. Luckily, I interfered in your behalf, and have secured for you the only waltz that was left at her disposal. I hope you will duly appreciate my self-abnegation.'
It hardly seemed to be appreciated, or at least not in the measure expected. Oswald's answer betrayed a marked coldness.
'You are very kind. To tell you the truth, it had been my intention not to dance this evening.'
'Now this is too bad!' exclaimed his cousin angrily. 'It would be shameful if you were to refuse now. Why should you? you used to dance formerly.'
'Because my aunt would not excuse me. The duty was always an onerous one. You know how little taste I have for dancing.'
'No matter; this waltz you will have to undertake, whether you like it or not. I have expressly retained it for you.'
'"Fräulein Rüstow"! Just the tone in which Hedwig said, "If Herr von Ettersberg desires it"! How often have I asked you both to give up this stiff form of address, and to behave towards each other as relations should? But it seems to me that every time you meet you grow more formal and freezing. This is getting quite unbearable.'
'I was not aware that I had been wanting in proper respect towards the lady of your choice.'
'Oh no, certainly not. You are, on the contrary, so exceedingly reverential to each other, that it chills the very blood in my veins to listen to you. I really do not understand you, Oswald. The reserve you affect towards Hedwig is so patent, so obvious, you positively cannot complain if she is occasionally a little ... a little brusque in her manner towards you.'