Joseph,
still touching the note of humility in his talk, eyed his relatives
alternately, and exhibited reluctance to quit them.
When he returned to the Close, it was with a face expressing
dissatisfaction. Clem's eager inquiries he met at first with an
ill-tempered phrase or two, which informed her of nothing; but when
dinner was over he allowed himself to be drawn into a confidential
talk, in which Mrs. Peckover took part. The old man, he remarked,
was devilish close; it looked as if 'some game was on.' Mrs.
Peckover ridiculed this remark; of course there was a game on; she
spoke of Sidney Kirkwood, the influence he had obtained over
Snowdon, the designs he was obviously pursuing. If Joseph thought he
would recover his rights, at this time of day, save by direct
measures, it only proved how needful it was for him to be instructed
by shrewd people. The old man was a hard nut to crack; why he lived
in Hanover Street, and sent Jane to work, when it was certain that
he had wealth at command, Mrs. Peckover could not pretend to
explain, but in all probability he found a pleasure in accumulating
money, and was abetted therein by Sidney Kirkwood.
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