Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. I, 1889.djvu/162

 that was being pursued, said that he would now relieve her; she lingered, hut shortly left the room. Sidney, sitting by the bed, in a few minutes saw that Jane once more slept, or appeared to do so. He whispered to Snowdon that he was going to see his friends in the next room, and would look in again before leaving.

His tap at the door was answered by Amy, who at once looked back and said:

"Can Mr. Kirkwood come in, mother?"

"Yes; I want to see him," was the answer.

Mrs. Hewett was lying in bed: she looked, if possible, more wretchedly ill than four days ago. On the floor were two mattresses, covered to make beds for the children. The baby, held in its mother's aims, was crying feebly.

"Why, I hoped you were getting much better by now," said Sidney.

Mrs. Hewett told him that she had been to the hospital on Saturday, and seemed to have caught cold. A common enough occurrence; hours of waiting in an out-patients'