Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. II, 1889.djvu/279

 glanced in a startled way at Sidney, murmured a “good-evening” to him, and made a request of Bessie for some trifle she needed. Sidney, after just looking round, kept his seat and paid no further attention to Jane, who speedily retired.

Silence followed, and in the midst of it Kirkwood pushed his chair impatiently.

“Bess,” cried Samuel, with an affected jocoseness, “you’re called upon to apologise. Don’t make a fool of yourself again.”

“I don’t see why he need be so snappish with me,” replied his wife. “I beg his pardon, if he wants me.”

But Sidney was laughing now, though not in a very natural way. He put an end to the incident, and led off into talk of quite a different kind. When supper-time was at hand he declared that it was impossible for him to stay. The hour had been anything but a lively one, and when he was gone his friends discussed at length this novel display of ill-humour on Sidney’s part.

He went home muttering to himself, and