Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. I, 1889.djvu/66

 why hasn't Clara come 'ome? What's gone with her?"

"Perhaps she's at Mrs. Tubbs's," replied his wife, in a low voice, looking at Kirkwood.

"An' what call has she to be there? Who gave her leave to go there?"

There was another exchange of looks between Sidney and Mrs. Hewett; then the latter with hesitation and timidity, told of Mrs. Tubbs's visit to her that evening, and of the proposals the woman had made.

"I won't hear of it!" cried John. "I won't have my girl go for a barmaid, so there's an end of it. I tell you she shan't go!"

"I can understand you, Mr. Hewett," said Sidney, in a tone of argument softened by deference; "but don't you think you'd better make a few inquiries, at all events. You see, it isn't exactly a barmaid's place. I mean to say, Mrs. Tubbs doesn't keep a public-house where people stand about drinking all day. It is only a luncheon-bar, and respectable enough."