to the brave."

And so it was with Reginald Cruden when finally the whole bitter truth
of his position broke in upon his mind. If the first sudden shock drove
him into the dungeon of Giant Despair, a night's quiet reflection, and
the consciousness of innocence within, helped him to shake off the
fetters, and emerge bravely and serenely from the crisis.

He knew he had nothing to be proud of--nothing to excuse his own folly
and shortsightedness--nothing to flatter his self-esteem; but no one
could accuse him of dishonour, or point the finger of shame in his way.
So he rose next morning armed for the worst.

What that would be he could not say, but whatever it was he would face
it, confident in his own integrity and the might of right to clear him.

He endeavoured, in a few words, to explain the position of affairs to
Love, who was characteristically quick at grasping it, and suggesting a
remedy.

"That there Medlock's got to be served, and no error!" he said. "I'll
murder 'im!"

"Nonsense!" said Reginald; "you can't make things right by doing wrong
yourself. And you know you wouldn't do such a thing."

"Do I know? Tell you I would, gov'nor! I'd serve him just like that
there 'Pollyon in the book. Or else I'd put rat p'ison in his beer,
and--my! wouldn't it be a game to see the tet'nus a-comin' on 'im,
and--"

"Be quiet," said Reginald; "I won't allow you to talk like that. It's
as bad as the _Tim Tigerskin_ days, Love, and we've both done with
them."

"You're right there!" said the boy, pulling his _Pilgrim's Progress_
from his pocket. "My! don't I wish I had the feller to myself in the
Slough o' Despond! Wouldn't I 'old 'is 'ead under! Oh no, not me!
None o' yer Mr 'Elpses to give 'im a leg out, if I knows it!"

"Perhaps he'll get punished enough without us," said Reginald. "It
wouldn't do us any good to see him suffering."

"Wouldn't it, though? Would me, I can tell yer!" said the
uncompromising Love.

It was evidently hopeless to attempt to divert his young champion's mind
into channels of mercy. Reginald therefore, for lack of anything else
to do, suggested to him to go on with the reading aloud, a command the
boy obeyed with alacrity, starting of his own accord at the beginning of
the book. So the two sat there, and followed their pilgrim through the
perils and triumphs of his way, each acknowledging in his heart the
spell of the wonderful story, and feeling himself a braver man for eve