Page:Joan, the curate.djvu/117

Rh account of his own compassion upon the lad, and of Jem's ungrateful return.

There was some satisfaction, however, in seeing how Joan took this recital. Her face clouded as she listened; and when he ended, there were tears in her eyes.

"'Twas infamous, sir, shameful, to treat you so, after what you had done," cried she, with a heightened color in her cheeks and the sparkle of indignation in her eyes. "And if they treat you like that again, I'll be a turncoat myself, and do my best to help you against—Jem."

"You speak," said Tregenna, with curiosity, "as if that bit of a lad were the ringleader of the gang."

Again Joan shot at him a glance in which there was some amusement. But she answered demurely—

"He is old for his years, sir, I believe."

"Well, Miss Joan, I shall think my experience of yesterday worth the risk if it but bring you to our side, the side of law and of justice."

By this time he saw that the brigadier had got the ear of the squire, and that he had turned