Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. I, 1889.djvu/235

 inevitable breach with Mrs. Tubbs. Just as he had said to himself that it was no use waiting about all the afternoon, he saw Clara approaching. At sight of him she manifested neither surprise nor annoyance, but came forward with eyes carelessly averted. Not having seen her for so long, Sidney was startled by the change in her features; her cheeks had sunk, her eyes were unnaturally dark, there was something worse than the familiar self-will about her lips.

“I’ve been waiting to see you,” he said. “Will you walk along here for a minute or two?”

“What do you want to say? I’m tired.”

“Mrs. Tubbs has told your mother what has happened, and she came to me. Your father doesn’t know yet.”

“It’s nothing to me whether he knows or not. I’ve left the place, that’s all, and I’m going to live here till I’ve got another.”

“Why not go home?”

“Because I don’t choose to. I don’t see that it concerns you, Mr. Kirkwood.”