At eleven o'clock Sidney left them, and mused with smiles on his way
home. This was not exactly his ideal of domestic happiness, yet it
was better than the life led by the Hewetts--better than that of
other households with which he was acquainted--better far, it
seemed to him, than the aspirations which were threatening to lead
poor Clara--who knew whither? A temptation beset him to walk round
into Upper Street and pass Mrs. Tubbs's bar. He resisted it, knowing
that the result would only be a night of sleepless anger and misery.
The next day he again saw Snowdon, and spoke to him of Mrs. Byass's
rooms. The old man seemed at first indisposed to go so far; but when
he had seen the interior of the house and talked with the landlady,
his objections disappeared. Before another week had passed the two
rooms were furnished in the simplest possible way, and Snowdon
brought Jane from Clerkenwell Close.
Kirkwood came by invitation as soon as the two were fairly
established in their home. He found Jane sitting by the fire in her
grandfather's room; a very little exertion still out-wearied her,
and the strange things that had come to pass had made her habitually
silent.
Pages:
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151