'
'You think--But then perhaps that's just what _I'm_ doing?'
Jane let her hand fall on the sewing and regarded him anxiously.
'No, no! I'm quite sure _you_ can't do harm. Pennyloaf can get
nothing but good from having you as a friend. She likes you; she
misses you when you happen not to have seen her for a few days. I'm
sorry to say it's quite a different thing with Bob and me. We're
friendly enough--as friendly as ever--but I haven't a scrap of
influence with him like you have with his wife. It was all very well
to get hold of him once, and try to make him understand, in a
half-joking way, that he wasn't behaving as well as he might. He
didn't take it amiss--just that once. But you can't think how
difficult it is for one man to begin preaching to another. The
natural thought is: Mind your own business. If I was the parson of
the parish--'
He paused, and in the same instant their eyes met. The suggestion
was irresistible; Jane began to laugh merrily.
What sweet laughter it was? How unlike the shrill discord whereby
the ordinary workgirl expresses her foolish mirth! For years Sidney
Kirkwood had been unused to utter any sound of merriment; even his
smiling was done sadly.
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