Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. II, 1889.djvu/157

 only just in time. Every second showed him more distinctly what his duty was. He experienced a sensation of thankfulness that he had not spoken definitely on Saturday evening. His instinct had guided him aright; Jane was still too young to be called upon solemnly to decide her whole future.

“That, too, had better wait, Mr. Snowdon,” he said, after a pause of a minute. “I should like her to know everything before I speak to her in that way. In a year it will be time enough.”

Michael regarded him thoughtfully.

“Perhaps you are right. I wish you knew Mr. Percival; but there is time, there is time. He still thinks I shall be persuaded to alter my plans. That night you came to Hanover Street and found me away, he took me to see a lady who works among the poor in Clerkenwell; she knew me by name, because Mr. Percival had given her money from me to use, but we’d never seen each other till then. He wants me to ask her opinion about Jane.”