“I know that he told me horrid, false things of your life abroad, and tried to make me lean upon him instead of you. He tried to persuade me to do all the things and go to all the places that you had warned me of. If I had known by nothing else that would have made me know it would be wrong—wickedly wrong.”
“Wolf!” He could scarcely hold his grasp for the trembling of his hands.
“I’ll settle with Stephen Kent,” he said, aloud. “He must answer to me for this.”
Glenn Andrews’ face looked manlier than ever in its rage.
Esther’s heart stood still for a moment, then beat wildly in its fear.
“Don’t risk yourself for me. I’m so sorry I told you.”
“Now I shall take care of myself and of him also. Don’t be fretting about the outcome. This is the last time you need be annoyed with it.” He stroked her hair, and there was a calming tenderness in the way he did it.
She could have borne the indignity alone if only Glenn had not brought the subject up. She had never meant to tell it to anyone.
Glenn left the house and went at once, only to find that Mr. Kent was not at home. Several days in succession he called with the same result. He wondered what impulse would lead him to if he should meet him by chance. Delay could scarcely weaken his determination to even up this score.
When Glenn went to the regular meeting of the club a few days later, it was a little shock of surprise that the name of Stephen Kent was up for membership. With a delicate tact he avoided any part of the proceedings that was not forced upon him. When it came his turn to cast his ballot for the man of whom he could have said a week ago he was all honor, he started, trembling violently as he let fall from his hand—a black ball.