Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. I, 1889.djvu/45

 Sidney took a hopeful tone—thought it very likely that the inquirer would pursue his search with success, being so near the house where Jane's parents had lived.

"I'll keep my eyes open," he said. "Perhaps I might see him. He'd be easy to recognise, I should think."

"And would you tell him, sir?" Jane asked eagerly.

"Why, of course I would. You'd like me to, wouldn't you?"

Jane's reply left small doubt on that score. Her companion looked down at her again, and said with compassionate gentleness: "Keep a good heart, Jane. Things'll be better some day, no doubt."

"Do you think so, sir?"

The significance of the simple words was beyond all that eloquence could have conveyed. Sidney muttered to himself, as he had done before, like one who is angry. He laid his hand on the child's shoulder for a moment.

A few minutes more and they were passing