Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. II, 1889.djvu/61

 does, who on earth would have the right to blame her? But we can’t expect miracles; so long as she lives decently, it’s the most that can be looked for. iind there you are; that isn’t enough to keep a fellow like Bob Hewett in order. I doubt whether any wife would manage it, but as for poor Pennyloaf!”

“I shall speak to him myself,” said Jane quietly.

“Do! There’s much more hope in that than in anything I could say. Bob isn’t a bad fellow; the worst thing I know of him is his conceit. He’s good-looking, and he’s clever in all sorts of ways, and unfortunately he can’t think of anything but his own merits. Of course he’d no business to marry at all whilst he was nothing but a boy.”

Jane plied her needle, musing.

“Do you know whether he ever goes to see his father?” Sidney inquired presently.

“No, I don’t,” Jane answered, looking at him, but immediately dropping her eyes.

“If he doesn’t I should think worse of him.