Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. II, 1889.djvu/249

 His absences of an evening were nothing new, but his manner on returning was such as Pennyloaf had never seen in him. He appeared to be suffering from some intense excitement; his hands were unsteady; he showed the strangest nervousness if there were any unusual sounds in the house. Then he certainly obtained money of which his wife did not know the source; he bought new articles of clothing, and in explanation said that he had won bets. Pennyloaf remarked these things with uneasiness; she had a fear during her lonely evenings for which she could give no reason. Poor slow-witted mortal though she was, a devoted fidelity attached her to her husband, and quickened wonderfully her apprehension in everything that concerned him.

“Miss Snowdon came to-day. Bob,” she had said, about a week after his order with regard to Jane.

“Oh, she did? And did you tell her she’d better keep away?”

“Yes,” was the dispirited answer.