To marry Jane, and, at the old man's death, resign every farthing of
the money to her trustees, for charitable uses?--But the old pang
of conscience; the life-long wound to Jane's tender heart.
A day of headache and incapacity, during which it was all he could
do to attend to his mechanical work, and again the miserable
loneliness of his attic. It rained, it rained. He had half a mind to
seek refuge at some theatre, but the energy to walk so far was
lacking. And whilst he stood stupidly abstracted there came a knock
at his door.
'I thought I'd just see if you'd got straight,' said Joseph Snowdon,
entering with his genial smile.
Sidney made no reply, but turned as if to stir the fire. Hands in
pockets, Joseph sauntered to a seat.
'Think you'll be comfortable here?' he went on. 'Well, well; of
course it's only temporary.'
'I don't know about that,' returned Sidney. 'I may stay here as long
as I was at the last place--eight years.'
Joseph laughed, with exceeding good-nature.
'Oh yes; I shouldn't wonder,' he said, entering into the joke.
'Still'--becoming serious--'I wish you'd found a pleasanter
place. With the winter coming on, you see--'
Sidney broke in with splenetic perversity.
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