"We know all that!" interrupted Frank, fiercely. "We don't wish for any verbiage from you; we only want, my cousin and I, a direct answer to our question, 'Why have you done this?' When you have answered it, we will leave you as quickly as possible. If you don't choose to answer, we will leave you without. In fact, Stella"—and he turned with a glance of contempt and angry scorn at the tall motionless figure with the pale face and compressed lips—"in fact, Stella, I don't think we much care to know. We had better go, I think, and leave it to someone else to demand an explanation and reparation."
Jasper did not look at him, took no notice whatever of the boyish scorn and indignation: he had borne Stella's; the boy's could not touch him after hers.
"I am ready to afford you an explanation," he said to Stella, with an emphasis on the 'you.'
Stella was silent, her eyes turned away from him, as if the very thought of him were distasteful to her.
"Go on, we are waiting!" exclaimed Frank, with all a boy's directness.
"I said that I would afford 'you,' Miss Etheridge," said Jasper. "I think it would be better if you were to hear me alone."
"What!" shouted Frank, drawing Stella's arm through his.
"Alone," repeated Jasper. "It would be better for you—for all of us," he repeated, with a significance in his voice that sank to Stella's heart.
"I won't hear of it!" exclaimed Frank. "I am here to protect her. I would not leave her alone with you a moment. You are quite capable of murdering her!"
Then, for the first time, Jasper noticed the boy's presence.