Of Jane's feeling Sidney could not
entertain a serious doubt, and he knew that for a long time he had
done his best to encourage it. It was unpardonable to draw aloof
from her just because these circumstances had declared themselves,
circumstances which brought perplexity into her life and doubtless
made her long for another kind of support than Michael could afford
her. The old man himself appeared to be waiting anxiously; he had
fallen back into his habit of long silences, and often regarded
Sidney in a way which the latter only too well understood.
He tried to help himself through the time of indecision by saying
that there was no hurry. Jane was very young, and with the new order
of things her life had in truth only just begun. She must have a
space to look about her; all the better if she could form various
acquaintances. On that account he urged so strongly that she should
be brought into relation with Miss Lant, and, if possible, with
certain of Miss Lant's friends. All very well, had not the reasoning
been utterly insincere. It might have applied to another person; in
Jane's case it was mere sophistry. Her nature was home-keeping; to
force her into alliance with conscious philanthropists was to set
her in the falsest position conceivable; striving to mould herself
to the desires of those she loved, she would suffer patiently and in
secret mourn for the time when she had been obscure and happy.
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