According to these reports--and Sidney did
not wholly discredit them--Michael was coming to have a far better
opinion of his son than formerly, was even disposed to speak with
him gravely of his dearest interests.
'We talked no end about you, Sidney, last night,' said Joseph on one
occasion, with the smile, whereby he meant to express the last
degree of friendly intelligence.
And Sidney, though anxiously desiring to know the gist of the
conversation, in this instance was not gratified. He could not bring
himself to put questions, and went away in a mood of vague annoyance
which Joseph had the especial power of exciting.
With the Byasses, Joseph was forming an intimacy; of this too Sidney
became aware, and it irritated him. The exact source of this
irritation he did not at first recognise, but it was disclosed at
length unmistakably enough, and that on the occasion of the visit
recently described. Bessie's pleasantry, which roused him in so
unwonted a manner, could bear, of course, but one meaning; as soon
as he heard it, Sidney saw as in a flash that one remaining aspect
of his position which had not as yet attracted his concern.
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