d Prisoner of Love

tion generally known, and so I have held my tongue about you. I know no ill of you, Master, and I think none, now that I believe you were not beguiling Kilmeny to meet you unknown to her friends of set purpose. But all this doesn’t make you a suitable friend for her, sir—it makes you all the more unsuitable. The less she sees of you the better.”

Eric almost started to his feet in an in- dignant protest; but he swiftly remem— bered that his only hope of winning Kil- meny lay in bringing Thomas Gordon to another way of thinking. He had got on better than he had expected so far; he must not now jeopardize what he had gained by rashness or impatience.

“ Why do you think so, Mr. Gordon? ” he asked, regaining his self-control with an effort.

“ Well, plain speaking is best, Master. If you were to come here and see Kilmeny often she’d most likely come to think too much of you. I mistrust there’s some

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