Clear was between her and the door.

She ran round the room, upsetting everything, for she thought he would kill her in his drunken rage.

Don't you remember, Mr.Denzil, how disorderly the room was?
Well, Clear got Rhoda into a corner, and was going to strike her; she had the stiletto still in her hand, and held it point outward to save herself from the blow.

She thought when he saw the weapon he would not dare to come nearer.

However, either he did not see the stiletto, or was too drunk to feel fear, for he stumbled and fell forward, so that the dagger ran right into his heart.