Drake's old pupils was Miss Grace Danver, in
whom, as soon as he met her, Scawthorne recognised the Grace Rudd of
earlier days. And it was not long after this that he brought to Mr.
Drake a young girl of interesting appearance, but very imperfect
education, who fancied she had a turn for acting; he succeeded in
arranging for her instruction, and a year and a half later she
obtained her first engagement at a theatre in Scotland. The name she
adopted was Clara Vale. Joseph Snowdon saw her once or twice before
she left London, and from Grace Danver he heard that Grace and she
had been schoolfellows in Clerkenwell. These facts revived in his
memory when he afterwards heard Clem speak of Clara Hewett.
Nothing came of the alliance between Polkenhorne and Joseph; when
the latter's money was exhausted, they naturally fell apart. Joseph
made a living in sundry precarious ways, but at length sank into
such straits that he risked the step of going to Clerkenwell Close.
Personal interest in his child he had then none whatever; his short
married life seemed an episode in the remote past, recalled with
indifference. But in spite of his profound selfishness, it was not
solely from the speculative point of view that he regarded Jane,
when he had had time to realise that she was his daughter, and in a
measure to appreciate her character.
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