.

JOSEPH'S RETURN.
On his side Kenneth strove hard during the days that followed to right himself in her eyes.

But so headlong was he in the attempt, and so misguided, that presently he overshot his mark by dropping an unflattering word concerning Crispin, whereby he attributed to the Tavern Knight's influence and example the degenerate change that had of late been wrought in him.
Cynthia's eyes grew hard as he spoke, and had he been wise he had better served his cause by talking in another vein.

But love and jealousy had so addled what poor brains the Lord had bestowed upon him, that he floundered on, unmindful of any warning that took not the blunt shape of words.

At length, however, she stemmed the flow of invective that his lips poured forth.
"Have I not told you already, Kenneth, that it better becomes a gentleman not to slander the man to whom he owes his life?
In fact, that a gentleman would scorn such an action ?" As he had protested before, so did he protest now, that what he had uttered was no slander.