Snowdon. And
there seems to be such a mystery about it, too.'
Bessie positively glowed with delight in such confidential talk. It
was her dread that Jane's arrival might put an end to it before
everything was revealed.
'A mystery, you may well say, Mrs. Byass. I think highly of Mr.
Kirkwood, very highly; but really in this affair! It's almost too
painful to talk about--to _you_.'
Bessie blushed, as becomes the Englishwoman of mature years when she
is gracefully supposed to be ignorant of all it most behoves her to
know.
'Well, well; he is on the point of marrying a young person with whom
I should certainly not like my daughter to associate--fortunately
there is little chance of that. You were never acquainted with Miss
Hewett?'
'Ye--yes. A long time ago.'
'Well, well; we must be charitable. You know that she is dreadfully
disfigured?'
'Disfigured? Jane didn't say a word about that. She only told me
that Mr. Kirkwood was going to marry her, and I didn't like to ask
too many questions. I hadn't even heard as she was at home.'
Joseph related to her the whole story, whilst Bessie fidgeted with
satisfaction.
'I thought,' he added, 'that you could perhaps throw some light on
the mystery.
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