So readily did she lose her temper, and so readily did she recover it again. She sat down again in her place, and jested and laughed,—always and continuously at the expense of the finely-educated new-comer.
Lorand was curious to know the name of the new member of the family.
"The daughter of one Bálnokházy, P. C." said Topándy, "Melanie, if I remember well."
Lorand was perplexed. A face from the past! How strange that he should meet her there?
Still it was so long since they had seen each other, that she would probably not recognize him.
Melanie was to arrive to-morrow evening. Early in the morning Czipra visited Lorand in his own room.
She found the young man before his looking-glass.
"Oho!" she said laughing, "you are holding counsel with your glass to see whether you are handsome enough? Handsome indeed you are: how often must I say so? Believe me for once."
But Lorand was not taking counsel with his glass on that point: he was trying to see if he had changed enough.
"Come now," said Czipra with a certain indifference. "I will make you pretty myself: you must be even more handsome, so that young lady's eyes may not be riveted upon me. Sit down, I will arrange your hair."