It was a sorrowful strain of parting, and the fresh young voice was very plaintive and tender. As Jasper watched the pretty lips, and ever and again hinted the one note, as though it were a low whisper from himself, the voice became less steady, until all at once the singer broke into a burst of tears, and shrieked out, with her hands over her eyes: ′I can′t bear this! I am frightened! Take me away!′
With one swift turn of her lithe figures Helena laid the little beauty on a sofa, as if she had never caught her up. Then, on one knee beside her, and with one hand upon her rosy mouth, while with the other she appealed to all the rest, Helena said to them: ′It′s nothing; it′s all over; don′t speak to her for one minute, and she is well!′
Jasper′s hands had, in the same instant, lifted themselves from the keys, and were now poised above them, as though he waited to resume. In that attitude he yet sat quiet: not even looking round, when all the rest had changed their places and were reassuring one another.
′Pussy′s not used to an audience; that′s the fact,′ said Edwin Drood. ′She got nervous, and couldn′t hold out. Besides, Jack, you are such a conscientious master, and require so much, that I believe you make her afraid of you. No wonder.′
′No wonder,′ repeated Helena.
′There, Jack, you hear! You would be afraid of him, under similar circumstances, wouldn′t you, Miss Landless?′
′Not under any circumstances,′ returned Helena.
Jasper brought down his hands, looked over his shoulder, and begged to thank Miss Landless for her vindication of his character. Then he fell to dumbly playing, without striking the notes, while his little pupil was taken to an open window for air, and was otherwise petted and restored. When she was brought back, his place was empty. ′Jack′s gone, Pussy,′ Edwin told her. ′I am more than half afraid he didn′t like to be charged with being the Monster who had frightened you.′ But she answered never a word, and shivered, as if they had made her a little too cold.
Miss Twinkleton now opining that indeed these were late hours, Mrs. Crisparkle, for finding ourselves outside the walls of the Nuns′ House, and that we who undertook the formation of the future wives and mothers of England (the last words in a lower voice, as requiring to be communicated in confidence) were really bound (voice coming up again) to set a better example than one of rakish habits, wrappers were put in requisition, and the two young cavaliers volunteered to see the ladies home. It was soon done, and the gate of the Nuns′ House closed upon them.
The boarders had retired, and only Mrs. Tisher in solitary vigil awaited the new pupil. Her bedroom being within Rosa′s, very little introduction or explanation was necessary, before she was placed in charge of her new friend, and left for the night.
′This is a blessed relief, my dear,′ said Helena. ′I have been dreading all day, that I should be brought to bay at this time.′
′There are not many of us,′ returned Rosa, ′and we are good-natured girls; at least the others are; I can answer for them.′
′I can answer for you,′ laughed Helena, searching the lovely little face with her dark, fiery eyes, and tenderly caressing the small figure. ′You will be a friend to me, won′t you?′
′I hope so. But the idea of my being a friend to you seems too absurd, though.
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