It is the ingratitude of that man which almost kills me.

But come, dearest, we will go down to Charley.

And Gertrude, mind this, be quite civil to Mrs.Val at present.

We will break from the whole set before long; but in the meantime I would have you be very civil to Mrs.Val.' And so they went down to dinner, and Alaric, after taking a glass of wine, played his part almost as though he had no weight upon his soul.

After dinner he drank freely, and as he drank his courage rose.