Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. I, 1889.djvu/81

 her habit when she wished to avoid any marked expression of countenance.

"I can't see what Mr. Kirkwood's got to do with it at all," she said with indifference, which now, however, was rather good-humoured than the reverse. "I'm sure I don't want anybody to answer for me." A slight toss of the head. "You'd have let me go in any case, father; so I don't see you need bring Mr. Kirkwood's name in."

Hewett turned away to the fireplace and hung his head. Sidney, gazing darkly at the girl, saw her look towards him, and she smiled. The strange effect of that smile upon her features! It gave gentleness to the mouth, and, by making more manifest the intelligent light of her eyes, emphasised the singular pathos inseparable from their regard. It was a smile to which a man would concede anything, which would vanquish every prepossession, which would inspire pity and tenderness and devotion in the heart of sternest resentment.

Sidney knew its power only too well; he