“Good Pilot—excellent, brave, admirable dog!” Evelyn heard him say; and she ground her small white teeth in anger.
A moment or two later, to her infinite delight, she saw Jasper coming up the road to meet her. In an instant the child and maid were in each other’s arms. Evelyn was petting Jasper, and kissing her over and over again on her dark cheek.
“Oh Jasper,” said the little girl, “I got such a fright! I came here to see you, and I was met by that horrible dog; and then a dreadful-looking old man came out and told me I was to go right away, and he petted the dog for trying to attack me. I was not frightened, of course—it is not likely that mothery’s little girl would be easily afraid—but, all the same, it was not pleasant. Why do you live in such a horrid, horrid place, Jasper darling?”
“Why do I live there?” answered Jasper. “Now, look at me—look me full in the face. I live in that house because Providence wills it, because—because—— Oh, I need not waste time telling you the reason. I live there because I am near to you, and for another reason; and I hope to goodness that you have not gone and made mischief, for if that dreadful old man, as you call him, finds out for a single moment that I am there, good-by to poor Miss Sylvia’s chance of life.”
“You are quite silly about Sylvia,” said Evelyn in a jealous tone.
“She is a very fine, brave young lady,” was Jasper’s answer.
“I wish you would not talk of her like that; you make me feel quite cross.”
“You always were a jealous little piece,” said Jasper, giving her former charge a look of admiration; “but you need not be, Eve, for no one—no one shall come inside my little white Eve. But there, now; do tell me. You did not say anything about me to Mr. Leeson?”
“No, I did not,” said Evelyn. “I only told him I had come to see Sylvia. Was it not good of me, Jasper? Was it not clever and smart?”
“It was like you, pet,” said Jasper. “You always were the canniest little thing—always, always.”