At that moment Jenny was lying back, trembling and agitated, with her eyes half closed, but her brother’s words stung her into action.
“You heard what Mr Claud Wilton said,” she retorted, angrily. “How dare you speak to me like this, Pierce, knowing what you do?”
He uttered an impatient ejaculation.
“Yes, that is how you treat me now,” she said, piteously; “your troubles have made you doubting and suspicious. Have I not suffered enough without you turning cruel to me again?”
“How can you expect me to behave differently when I find you encouraging that cad here? It is all the result of the way in which you forgot your self-respect and what was due to me.”
“That’s cruel again, Pierce. You know why I acted as I did.”
“Pah!” he exclaimed; “and now I find you encouraging the fellow.”
“I was as much taken by surprise as you were, dear,” she said.
“And to use the fellow’s words, do you think I am blind? It was plain enough to see that you were pleased that he came.”
“I was not,” she cried, angrily now. “I tell you I was quite taken by surprise. I was horrified and frightened, and I was glad when I saw you coming, for I wanted you to punish him for daring to come.”