gentleman, never to play for money as long as you are here."

"I promise--I will vow if you like--there is nothing--nothing that I
would not promise you. Mr. Herrick, you have saved me from disgrace,
and Dinah from a broken heart."

"Hush, hush!"

"No, please let me say one thing more. It is a loan--of course I
understand that; it may be years before I pay it back, but if I live
it shall be paid back, every penny."

"Oh, we can talk about that in the future," returned Malcolm
quickly. He had little hope that Cedric would ever be able to repay
him.

"It shall be paid," replied the lad firmly. "My sisters are very
good to me--and I have more than I need;" and Malcolm's good sense
and knowledge of human nature made him hold his tongue.

It would be a pity to damp the lad's good resolution, and probably
the small sacrifices and petty self-denials necessary to the
settlement of the debt would be valuable training, and help to make
a man of him; so he said nothing further on the subject, and a few
minutes later they parted.

Malcolm kept his promise, and before the next day was over he had
paid Cedric's debt of honour, with a stern word of caution to his
tempters that turned them chill with dismay.