Hadn't she already been hit hard enough?
But before she could speak Alice was in breath again.

"You can't answer me back,--even you, clever as you are.

You've nothing to say.

That night at my house, when we had it out before, you said that you were not interested in Gilbert.

If that wasn't a cold-blooded lie what was it?
Your interest has been so great that you've never let him alone since.