thee no harm."

"Beware," cried Edmund, distrustfully, as he covered over the angel.
"Beware!"

"Edmund, thou speakest over rashly," interposed Sir Ronald. "Master
Manners would honour thee, and thou treatest him so lightly. Together
you may accomplish your designs and work whatever you will; the
past--"

"Is buried with its forefathers and forgotten," quickly exclaimed
Manners. "Come, I greet thee on equal terms. I would be thy friend."

Edmund shook the proffered hand as though it were a bar of red-hot
iron he had been commanded to hold, or a phial of his precious elixir
he was carrying, and he felt by no means flattered at the reference
to their equality, just as if he, too, had discovered such mighty
secrets.

"I shall not want for friends soon, forsooth; the great have ever
many," he replied.

Manners laughed.

"Thou hast few enough as yet, I'll warrant, besides thy good friend,
Sir Ronald," he exclaimed. "I trow you cannot well afford to turn the
first comers away, Nathan."

"I can do all with my elixir," was the proud response.