sparkle invited to his
house Jasper, the choir master, with Edwin Drood, who was visiting him,
and Rosebud from the seminary. Before they parted Rosebud was asked to
sing.

Jasper played her accompaniment, and while she sang he watched her lips
intently. All at once, to their great astonishment, Rosebud covered her
face with her hands and, crying out, "I can't bear this! I am
frightened! Take me away!" burst into tears.

Helena, the new-comer, who had liked Rosebud at first sight, seemed to
understand her better than any one else. She laid her on a sofa, soothed
her, and in a few moments Rosebud seemed again as usual. Mr. Crisparkle
and Edwin Drood thought it only a fit of nervousness. To her relief,
they made light of the matter, and so the evening ended.

But later, at Nun's House, where she and Helena were to be room-mates,
Rosebud told her new friend how much she disliked Jasper and how his
eyes terrified her, and how, as she sang, with his eyes watching her
lips, she felt as if he had kissed her.

While the two girls were talking of this, Neville and Edwin Drood, who
had gone with them as far as the door of the seminary, were walking back
together. Mr. Crisparkle had told Neville of Drood's betrothal to
Rosebud, and Neville now spoke of it. Drood, who had felt all along that
he and Rosebud did not get along well together and who was sensitive on
the subject, was unjustly angry that the other should so soon know what
he considered his own private affair. He answered in a surly way and, as
both were quick-tempered, they soon came to high words.

As it happened, Jasper was walking near, and, overhearing, came between
them. He reproved them good-naturedly and took them to his rooms, where
he insisted they should drink a glass of wine with him to their good
fellowship. There he did a dastardly thing. He mixed with the wine a
drug which, once drunk, aroused their angry passions. Their speech grew
thick and the quarrel began again. Safe now from any spectator, Jasper
did not attempt to soothe them. He let them go on until they were about
to come to blows. Then, pretending the greatest indignation, he threw
himself upon Neville and forced him, hatless, from the house.

In the cool night air Neville's strange dizziness, and with it his rage,
cleared away. He realized that the blame for the quarrel had been
Jasper's, but he did not guess the drugging of the wine and could not
explain the incident even to himself. He we