"In what way?"
"Jerce will chuck me. He can be a beast when he likes."
"Let him be a beast," said Clarice, impatiently, "although I think you exaggerate. He'll say nothing. He has no right to say anything."
"Clarice!" He caught her hands. "For my sake you must marry Jerce."
The girl released herself, angrily. "What do you mean by that?"
"Jerce could help me so much," said Ferdy, feebly.
"Is that all?" asked Clarice, keeping her eyes steadfastly fixed on the weak, handsome face of her brother.
"Of course--of course," he replied, testily. "What else could there be, you stupid girl?"
"I don't know," she said, coldly, "but I do know, Ferdy, that you never by any chance tell the whole truth. You always keep something back, and that makes it difficult to know how to advise you."
"I don't ask for advice."