Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. II, 1889.djvu/260

 “I may speak about this to Mr. Kirkwood, grandfather?”

“I hope you will, Jane. Strangers needn’t know of it yet, but we can speak freely to him.” After many endeavours to find words that would veil her thought, she constrained herself to ask:

“Does he think I can be all you wish?”

Michael looked at her, with a smile.

“Sidney has no less faith in you than I have, be sure of that.”

“I’ve been thinking—that perhaps he distrusted me a little.”

“Why, my child?”

“I don’t quite know. But there’s been a little difference in him, I think, since we came back.”

Michael’s countenance fell.

“Difference? How?”

But Jane could not go further. She wished she had not spoken. Her face began to grow hot, and she moved away.

“It’s only your fancy.” continued Michael.