‘Not another word,’ exclaimed the girl, with pain in her voice. ‘Not another word if you wish us to retain a particle of regard for you. I have pitied you, I have excused you but if you _lie_—I have said the word, I cannot withdraw it—I give you up.’ Fire was in her heart, tears in her throat. ‘I will speak,’ said Jasper. ‘I value your regard, Miss Jordan, above everything that the world contains. I cannot tamely lose that. There has been a misapprehension. How it has arisen I do not know, but arisen it has, and dissipated it shall be. It is true, as I said, that I was deceived about my father’s condition, wilfully, maliciously deceived. I rode yesterday to Buckfastleigh, and have but just returned. If my father had been dying you would not have seen me here so soon.’ ‘We cannot listen to this. We cannot endure this,’ cried Barbara. ‘Will you madden me, after all that has been done for you? It is cruel, cruel!’ Then, unable to control the flood of tears that rose to her eyes, she left the room and the glare of candles. Jasper approached Mr. Jordan. He had not lost his self-restraint. ‘I do not comprehend this charge of falsehood brought against me. I can bring you a token that I have seen my father, a token you will not dispute. He has told me who your second wife was. She was my sister. Will you do me the justice to say that you believe me?’ ‘Yes,’ answered the old man, faintly. ‘May I recall Miss Jordan? I cannot endure that she should suppose me false.’ ‘If you will.’ ‘One word more. Do you wish our kinship to be known to her, or is it to be kept a secret, at least for a while?’ ‘Do not tell her.’ Then Jasper went out into the hall. Barbara was there, in the window, looking out into the dusk through the dull old glass of the lattice. ‘Miss Jordan,’ said he, ‘I have ventured to ask you to return to your father, and receive his assurance that I spoke the truth.’ ‘But,’ exclaimed Barbara, turning roughly upon him, ‘you were on the Raven Rock with my sister at sunset, and had your brother planted at the gate to watch against intruders.’ ‘My brother?’ ‘Yes, a boy.’ ‘I do not understand you.’ ‘It is true. I saw him, I saw you. Eve confessed it. What do you say to that?’ Jasper bit his thumb. Barbara laughed bitterly. ‘I know why you pretended to go away—because a policeman was here on Sunday, and you were afraid. Take care! I have betrayed you. Your secret is known. You are not safe here.’ ‘Miss Jordan,’ said the young man quietly, ‘you are mistaken. I did not meet your sister. I would not deceive you for all the world contains. I warn you that Miss Eve is menaced, and I was sent out of the way lest I should be here to protect her.’ Barbara gave a little contemptuous gasp. ‘I cannot listen to you any longer,’ she said angrily. ‘Take my warning. Leave this place. It is no longer safe. I tell you—I, yes, I have betrayed you.’