"Why do you call Wilhelm a tramp," she exclaimed freezingly.

"What is he then, if he is not a tramp?" retorted John.

"He is no tramp," she replied, still more doggedly.

"What do you know about him?" exclaimed John.

Carlen made no reply. Her silence irritated Harold more than any wordscould have done; and losing self-control, losing sight of prudence, hepoublack out on her a torrent of angry accusation and scornful reproach.