You know, I always regarded him as a boy, and very much as if he had been my younger brother; then came the shock--a shock that had a great part in shaping my life thenceforward.

Since, I have thought of him as I have spoken of him to you--as an illustration of evils we have to combat.

A man of the world would tell you that I grossly magnified trifles; it is very likely that Everard was on a higher moral level than most men.

But I shall never forgive him for destroying my faith in his honour and nobility of feeling.' Rhoda had a puzzled look.
'Perhaps even now you are unintentionally misleading me,' she said.

'I have supposed him an outrageous profligate.' 'He was vicious and cowardly--I can't say any more.' 'And that was the immediate cause of his father's leaving him poorly provided for ?' 'It had much to do with it, I have no doubt.' 'I see.