Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. II, 1889.djvu/34

 Jane nodded. Then the other brought her head a little nearer, and whispered:

“I’m goin’ to be married!”

“Are you really?”

“In a week. Who do you think it is? Somebody as you know of, but if you guessed till next Christmas you’d never come right.”

Nor had Clem any intention of revealing the name, but she laughed consumedly, as if her reticence covered the most amusing situation conceivable.

“It’ll be the biggest surprise you ever had in your life. You’ve swore you won’t speak about it. I don’t think I shall come to work after this week,—but you’ll have to come an’ see us. You’ll promise to, won’t you?”

Still convulsed with mirth, Clem went off to another part of the room. From Jane’s countenance the look of amusement which she had perforce summoned soon passed; it was succeeded by a shadow almost of pain, and not till she had been at work again for nearly an hour was the former placidity restored to her.