Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. II, 1889.djvu/295

 “Still,” he continued, “you’ve given her to understand—eh? I suppose there’s no secret about that?”

“I’ve often spoken to her very intimately, but I have used no words such as you are thinking of. It’s quite true that my way of behaving has meant more than ordinary friendship.”

“Yes, yes; you’re not offended at me bringing this subject up, old man? You see, I’m her father, after all, and I think we ought to understand each other.”

“You are quite right.”

“Well, now, see.” He fidgeted a little. “Has my father ever told you that his friend the lawyer, Percival, altogether went against that way of bringing up Jane?”

“Yes, I know that.”

“You do?” Joseph paused before proceeding. “To tell you the truth, I don’t much care about Percival. I had a talk with him, you know, when my business was being settled. No, I don’t quite take to him, so to say. Now, you won’t be offended? The fact