You know, he _might_ begin to think that you had
some sort of--eh?'
It was not the second, nor yet the third, time that Joseph had
looked in and begun to speak in this scrappy way, continuing the
tone of that dialogue in which he had assumed a sort of community of
interest between Kirkwood and himself. But the limit of Sidney's
endurance was reached.
'There's no knowing,' he exclaimed, 'what anyone may think of me, if
people who have their own ends to serve go spreading calumnies. Let
us understand each other, and have done with it. I told Mr. Snowdon
that I could never be anything but a friend to Jane. I said it, and
I meant it. If you've any doubt remaining, in a few days I hope
it'll be removed. What your real wishes maybe I don't know, and I
shall never after this have any need to know. I can't help speaking
in this way, and I want to tell you once for all that there shall
never again be a word about Jane between us. Wait a day or two, and
you'll know the reason.'
Joseph affected an air of gravity--of offended dignity.
'That's rather a queer sort of way to back out of your engagements,
Kirkwood. I won't say anything about myself, but with regard to my
daughter--'
'What do you mean by speaking like that?' cried the young man,
sternly.
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