Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. I, 1889.djvu/101

 "It's that Jane, just because I gave her a rap as she deserved. Send her down again."

"Oh, no!" cried the poor girl. "Miss Hewett! be a friend to me! She's goin' to shut me up all night with the coffin. Don't let her, miss! I durstn't! Oh, be a friend to me!"

"Little liar!" shouted Clem. "Oh, that bloomin little liar! when I never said a word o' such a thing!"

"I'll believe her a good deal sooner than you," returned Clara sharply. "Why, anybody can see she's tellin' the truth,—can't they, father? She's half scared out of her life. Come in here, Jane; you shall stay here till morning."

By this time all the grown-up people in the house were on the staircase; the clang of tongues was terrific. Clem held her ground stoutly, and in virulence was more than a match for all her opponents. Even Bob did not venture to take her part; he grinned down over the banisters, and enjoyed the entertainment immensely. Dick Snape, whose