"Is that a lie, too?" he demanded. "If not—if it be true—then we will wait. We shall see how much longer you will be able to crow, Mr. Adelstone!"
"Let us go, Frank," implored Stella. "You will let me go now?" And she turned to Jasper.
Frank was almost driven to madness by her tone.
"What has he said and done to change you like this?" he said. "You speak to him as if you were his slave!"
She looked at him sadly.
Jasper shook his head.
"Wait," he said—"it will be better that you wait. Trust me. I will spare you as much as possible; but it will be better that he should learn all that he has to learn from your lips, here and now."
She bowed her head, and still holding Frank's arm sank into a chair.
The boy was about to burst out again, but she stopped him.
"Hush!" she said, "do not speak, every word cuts me to the heart. Not a word, dear—not another word. Let us wait."