Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. II, 1889.djvu/86

 suppose your grandfather has often spoken to you about me?”

“Not very often, father,” was the murmured answer.

“Well, well; things’ll soon be set right. I feel quite proud of you, Janey; I do, indeed. And I suppose you just keep house for him, eh?”

“I go to work as well.”

“What? You go to work? How’s that, I wonder?”

“Didn’t Miss Peckover tell you?”

Joseph laughed. The girl could not grasp all these astonishing facts at once, and the presence of her father made her forget who Miss Peckover had become.

“You mean my wife, Janey! No, no; she didn’t tell me you went to work;—an accident. But I’m delighted you and Clem are such good friends. Kind-hearted girl, isn’t she?”

Jane whispered an assent.

“No doubt your grandfather often tells you about Australia, and your uncle that died there?”