d strong language when his adviser pressed it.

"Obstinate young beggar," he growled; "it would serve him right to let
him get out of the mess by himself;" and then he relented from his
severity, and rapidly added up some sums in his head. The result of his
calculation was satisfactory. He had just that amount lying idle at his
banker's. His mother made him a liberal allowance, and he was beginning
to turn an honest penny by literary work. At that time he was still an
occupant of his mother's house, so his expenses were not great.

"Yes, I will risk it," he thought, with one of those sudden impulses
that took other people as well as himself by surprise, and then he
walked quickly up to Cedric.

"Look here, Templeton," he exclaimed, "I have made up my mind to go
bail for the whole amount. It is too late now to do anything, but
to-morrow I will see those fellows and give them a bit of my mind. Your
friend the card-sharper will have to make tracks. Anyhow, I will pay
up."

"Good heavens, Mr. Herrick, you don't mean--you don't mean;" but here
Cedric could not utter a word more, for his voice was choked with sobs.
Malcolm could just gather a few incoherent
expressions--"benefactor"--"God bless him"--"eternal gratitude," or
some such phrases.

"Tut, nonsense," returned Malcolm testily; but his eyes were not quite
clear, and he laid a kindly hand on the boy's shoulder. "I want no
thanks, only you must promise me, on your word as an English 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 subj