The fact was that Kenrick, though he would hardly have admitted it even to himself, was in a particularly ready mood to take offence. He had observed that Walter disapproved of his manner towards his mother, and his sensitive pride had already been ruffled by the fact that Walter had exercised the moral courage of pointing out, though in the most delicate and modest way, the brusquerie which he reprobated. At the time he had said little, but in reality this had made him very, very angry; and the more so because he was jealous enough to fancy that he now stood second only, or even third, in Walter's estimation, and that Power and Henderson had deposed him from the place which he once held as his chief friend; and that Walter had also usurped _his_ old place in _their_ affections. This displeased him greatly, for he was not one who could contentedly take the second place. He could not have had a more excellent companion than the manly and upright Whalley; but in his close intimacy with him he had rather hoped to pique Walter, and show him that his society was not indispensable to his happiness. But Walter's open and generous mind was quite incapable of understanding this unworthy motive, and with feelings far better trained than those of Kenrick, he never felt the slightest qualm of this small jealousy. "Never mind, my dear fellow," said Whalley, patting him on the back; "why should you care so much because two _such_ fellows as White-feather and Varnish try to be impudent. I shouldn't care the snap of a finger for anything they could say." "It isn't that, Whalley, it isn't that," said Kenrick proudly, drying his tears. "But how did those fellows know the things they were hinting at? Only one person ever heard them, and he must have betrayed them to laugh at me behind my back. It's _that_ that makes me miserable." "But whom do you mean?" "The excellent Evson," said Kenrick bitterly. "And mark me, Whalley, I'll never speak to him again." "_Evson_," said Whalley, "I don't believe he's at all the fellow to do it. Are you certain?" "Quite. No one else could know the things." "But surely you'll ask him first?" "It's no use," answered Kenrick, gloomily; "but I _will_, in order that he may understand that I have found him out." CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. A BROKEN FRIENDSHIP. Everard, Everard, which was the truest, God in the future, and Time will show, Ne'er will I stoop to defence or excuses-- If you despise me--be it so! But, my Everard, still (for I love you) This to the end my prayer shall be-- Ne'er may you be so sternly treated, Never be judged as you judge me.--F.