The
Byasses had learnt, or had been put in the way of surmising, that
Michael Snowdon was wealthy; instantly they passed to the reflection
that in marrying Jane their old acquaintance would be doing an
excellent stroke of business. They were coarse-minded, and Bessie
could even venture to jest with him on this detestable view of his
projects. But was it not very likely that they derived their
information from Joseph Snowdon? And if so, was it not all but
certain that Joseph had suggested to them this way of regarding
Sidney himself?
So when Jane's face appeared at the door he held himself in stubborn
disregard of her. A thing impossible to him, he would have said a
few minutes ago. He revenged himself upon Jane. Good; in this way he
was likely to make noble advances.
The next evening he was due at the Snowdons', and for the very first
time he voluntarily kept away. He posted a note to say that the
business of his removal had made him irregular; he would come next
week, when things were settled once more.
Thus it came to pass that he sat wretchedly in his unfamiliar room
and groaned about 'that accursed money.' His only relief was in
bursts of anger.
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