And then, with a hurricane of oaths, he hurled his company against the pike-men.

The blow was irresistible, and above the din of it came that voice of his again: 'Up, Cavaliers! Slash the cuckolds to ribbons, gentlemen!' The cropears gave way, and like a river that has burst its dam, we poured through the opening in their ranks and headed back for Worcester." There was a roar of voices as Faversham ended, and around that table "The Tavern Knight" was for some minutes the only toast.
Meanwhile half a dozen merry-makers at a table hard by, having drunk themselves out of all sense of fitness, were occupied in baiting a pale-faced lad, sombrely attired, who seemed sadly out of place in that wild company--indeed, he had been better advised to have avoided it.
The matter had been set afoot by a pleasantry of Ensign Tyler's, of Massey's dragoons, with a playful allusion to a letter in a feminine hand which Kenneth had let fall, and which Tyler had restored to him.
Quip had followed quip until in their jests they transcended all bounds.
Livid with passion and unable to endure more, Kenneth had sprung up.
"Damnation!" he blazed, bringing his clenched hand down upon the table.
"One more of your foul jests and he that utters it shall answer to me!" The suddenness of his action and the fierceness of his tone and gesture--a fierceness so grotesquely ill-attuned to his slender frame and clerkly attire left the company for a moment speechless with amazement.

Then a mighty burst of laughter greeted him, above which sounded the shrill voice of Tyler, who held his sides, and down whose crimson cheeks two tears of mirth were trickling.
"Oh, fie, fie, good Master Stewart!" he gasped.

"What think you would the reverend elders say to this bellicose attitude and this profane tongue of yours ?" "And what think you would the King say to this drunken poltroonery of yours ?" was the hot unguarded answer.

"Poltroonery, I say," he repeated, embracing the whole company in his glance.
The laughter died down as Kenneth's insult penetrated their befuddled minds.