of both has been utterly neglected; instruction has been denied to
them. Neville explains the cause of their fierceness to
Crisparkle. In Ceylon they were bullied by a cruel stepfather and
several times ran away: the girl was the leader, always "dressed
as a boy, and showing the daring of a man." Edwin Drood's air of
supercilious ownership of Rosa Bud (indicated as a fault of youth
and circumstance, not of heart and character), irritates Neville
Landless, who falls in love with Rosa at first sight. As Rosa
sings, at Crisparkle's, while Jasper plays the piano, Jasper's
fixed stare produces an hysterical fit in the girl, who is soothed
by Helena Landless. Helena shows her aversion to Jasper, who, as
even Edwin now sees, frightens Rosa. "You would be afraid of him,
under similar circumstances, wouldn't you, Miss Landless?" asks
Edwin. "Not under any circumstances," answers Helena, and Jasper
"thanks Miss Landless for this vindication of his character."

The girls go back to their school, where Rosa explains to Helena
her horror of Jasper's silent love-making: "I feel that I am never
safe from him . . . a glaze comes over his eyes and he seems to
wander away into a frightful sort of dream in which he threatens
most," as already quoted. Helena thus, and she alone, except Rosa,
understands Jasper thoroughly. She becomes Rosa's protectress.
"Let whomsoever it most concerned look well to it."

Thus Jasper has a new observer and enemy, in addition to the
omnipresent street boy, Deputy, and the detective old hag of the
opium den.

Leaving the Canon's house, Neville and Edwin quarrel violently over
Rosa, in the open air; they are followed by Jasper, and taken to