'
He assented. But on his going into the other room Eagles met him
with a message from Sidney, anticipating his design, and requesting
him to step over to Bed Lion Street in the course of the evening.
John instantly announced this to his daughter. She nodded, but said
nothing.
In a few minutes John went on his way. The day's work had tired him
exceptionally, doubtless owing to his nervousness, and again on the
way to Sidney's he had recourse to a dose of the familiar stimulant.
With our eyes on a man of Hewett's station we note these little
things; we set them down as a point scored against him; yet if our
business were with a man of leisure, who, owing to worry, found his
glass of wine at luncheon and again at dinner an acceptable support,
we certainly should not think of paying attention to the matter.
Poverty makes a crime of every indulgence. John himself came out of
the public-house in a slinking way, and hoped Kirkwood might not
scent the twopenny-worth of gin.
Sidney was in anything but a mood to detect this little lapse in his
visitor. He gave John a chair, but could not sit still himself. The
garret was a spacious one, and whilst talking he moved from wall to
wall.
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