Helena Landless kissed her, and retaining both her hands, said:
“Who is Mr. Jasper?”
Rosa turned aside her head in answering: “Eddy’s uncle, and my music-master.”
“You do not love him?”
“Ugh!” She put her hands up to her face, and shook with fear or horror.
“You know that he loves you?”
“O, don’t, don’t, don’t!” cried Rosa, dropping on her knees, and clinging to her new resource. “Don’t tell me of it! He terrifies me. He haunts my thoughts, like a dreadful ghost. I feel that I am never safe from him. I feel as if he could pass in through the wall when he is spoken of.” She actually did look round, as if she dreaded to see him standing in the shadow behind her.
“Try to tell me more about it, darling.”
“Yes, I will, I will. Because you are so strong. But hold me the while, and stay with me afterwards.”
“My child! You speak as if he had threatened you in some dark way.”
“He has