"Anthony, catch her," cried Clarice, and the young man had only time to grip Jane by the scruff of the neck, and swing her aside, when the doctor entered the room. Jerce looked quiet and smiling, and apparently had no idea of the danger of his position. He laughed, when he saw Jane snapping and snarling with blazing eyes, the picture of impotent wrath. "I really wonder why that dog hates me so?" said Sir Daniel, shrugging.
"She knows you better than we do," retorted Clarice, sternly.
[CHAPTER XXV]
THE WHOLE TRUTH
Sir Daniel looked surprised when he heard Clarice's remark, and glanced from her to Ferdy. He saw that both brother and sister were white and troubled, but, feeling absolutely safe, he never ascribed their emotion to anything connected with himself. Advancing to the fire, he warmed his hands, and smiled more blandly than ever. "I should think you should know me by this time, Miss Baird," he said, cheerfully. "Wet weather, isn't it?"
Clarice said nothing, and Ferdy evaded the eye of Jerce, while Anthony, having put Jane out into the garden, returned and closed the drawing-room door. Considering what was to be said, it was best, as he thought, to keep the conversation as private as possible. The doctor also noted that Ackworth looked stern and white. By this time, he showed a slight uneasiness, as trouble was too palpably in the air for him to ignore it. Perhaps some thought of betrayal crossed his mind, for he suddenly looked apprehensively at young Baird. Ferdy dodged his eye again, and the doctor, to break an oppressive silence, made an uneasy joke.
"You are all very quiet," said he, smiling in a wry way. "Is it because I have forgotten my manners, and have not shaken hands? I ask all your pardons, and will do so now, Miss Baird."
"No," said Clarice, putting her hands behind her back, "and I wonder that you have the assurance even to speak to me."
"Considering that you asked me down, that is a strange speech," said Jerce, frowning, and losing his suave looks. "I thought that you were satisfied with my assurance that I never wrote that anonymous letter of which you complained?"
"I know that you did not write it."