However, nothing but what
was agreeable manifested itself in her intercourse with Michael and
Jane; the former found her ardent spirit very congenial, and the
latter was soon at ease in her company.
It was a keen distress to Jane when she heard from Pennyloaf that
Bob would allow no future meetings between them. In vain she sought
an explanation; Pennyloaf professed to know nothing of her husband's
motives, but implored her friend to keep away for a time, as any
disregard of Bob's injunction would only result in worse. troubles
than she yet had to endure. Jane sought the aid of Kirkwood, begging
him to interfere with young Hewett; the attempt was made, but proved
fruitless. '_Sic volo, sic jubeo_,' was Bob's standpoint, and he as
good as bade Sidney mind his own affairs.
Jane suffered, and more than she herself would have anticipated. She
had conceived a liking, almost an affection, for poor, shiftless
Pennyloaf, strengthened, of course, by the devotion with which the
latter repaid her. But something more than this injury to her
feelings was involved in her distress on being excluded from those
sorry lodgings. Pennyloaf was comparatively an old friend; she
represented the past, its contented work, its familiar associations,
its abundant happiness.
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