hang the consequences." Malcolm finished his sentence with a touch
of impatience, for the boy's scared face almost frightened him.

"No, no, no!" returned Cedric vehemently. "I would sooner drown
myself a hundred times over. Look here," plucking at Malcolm's coat-
sleeve with his feverish, restless hand, "you don't understand--you
don't know Dinah; she would break her heart, and Elizabeth too. They
are such good women, they don't allow for a fellow's temptation;
and--and I have broken my word."

"How do you mean, my dear lad?"

"I gave them my sacred promise not to play for money. I don't know
why Dinah was always so afraid of that. They never thought of the
other thing," and Cedric hung his head in shame--"they would not
believe it was possible; it was always debt and not paying one's
bills that Dinah feared."

"Your sister was right, Templeton," returned Malcolm somewhat
sternly. "Wait a moment, I must think over things and see what is to
be done;" and then he rose from the bench and paced slowly up and
down. "A hundred and twenty pounds lost in a single night to a
professional card-sharper," he thought. "The rogues ought to be
shown up, only this would involve the end of the lad's university
career." Malcolm knew the Proctor well--not even a first offence
would receive a merciful verdict.

If only the boy would throw himself upon his sisters' compassion--
women were so soft-hearted and forgave so easily. But Cedric had
refused this; he had even used strong language when his adviser