Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. II, 1889.djvu/271

 “He spoke to you of a lady called Miss Lant?” were his next words.

“Yes. He just mentioned her.”

“Are you going to see her soon?”

“I don’t know. Have you seen her?”

“No. But I believe she’s a woman you could soon be friendly with. I hope your grandfather will ask her to come here before long.”

“I’m rather afraid of strangers.”

“No doubt,” said the other, smiling. “But you’ll get over that. I shall do my best to persuade Mr. Snowdon to make you acquainted with her.”

Jane drew in her breath uneasily.

“She won’t want me to know other people, I hope?”

“Oh, if she does, they’ll be kind and nice and easy to talk to.”

Jane raised her eyes and said half-laughingly:

“I feel as if I was very childish, and that makes me feel it still more. Of course, if it’s necessary, I’ll do my best to talk to strangers.