When he had endeavoured to make her understand his wishes by certain disparaging hints which he had thrown out as to Colonel Osborne, saying that he was a dangerous man, one who did not show his true character, a snake in the grass, a man without settled principles, and such like, his wife had taken up the cudgels for her friend, and had openly declared that she did not believe a word of the things that were alleged against him.

"But still, for all that, it is true," the husband had said.

"I have no doubt that you think so," the wife had replied.

"Men do believe evil of one another, very often.

But you must excuse me if I say that I think you are mistaken.
I have known Colonel Osborne much longer than you have done, Louis, and papa has always had the highest opinion of him." Then Mr.
Trevelyan had become very angry, and had spoken those words which he could not recall.