"No!" she said, firmly, and her face burnt. "You must not keep it. I—I did not think when I gave it to you! Give it me back, please," and she held out her hand.
He still hesitated, and Stella, overstrained, made a step toward him.
"Give it me," she said. "I must—I will have it!"
An angry flush came on his face, and he held the rose from her.
"It is mine," he said. "You gave it to me; I cannot give it back."
The words had scarcely left his lips, when the rose was dashed from his hand, and Frank stood white and panting between them.
"How dare you!" he gasped, passionately, his hands clinched, his eyes gleaming fiercely upon the white face. "How dare you!" and with a savage exclamation the boy dashed his foot on the flower, and ground it under his heel.
The action, so full of scornful defiance, spurred Jasper back to consciousness. With a smothered oath he grasped the boy's shoulders.
Frank turned upon him with the savage ferocity of a wild animal, with upraised arm. Then, suddenly, like a lightning flash, Jasper's face changed and a convulsive smile forced itself upon his lips.
He caught the arm and held it, and smiled down at him.