Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. III, 1889.djvu/102

 superior. Within, Amy and Annie were just going to bed. She sat with them in her usual silence for a quarter of an hour, then, having ascertained that Eagles was gone into his own chamber, went out to speak to her father.

“My friend came,” she said. “Do you suspect who it was?”

“Why, no, I can’t guess, Clara.”

“Haven’t you thought of Mr. Kirkwood?”

“You don’t mean that?”

“Father, you are quite mistaken about Jane Snowdon—quite.”

John started up from his seat.

“Has he told you so, himself?”

“Yes. But listen; you are not to say a word on that subject to him. You will be very careful, father?”

John gazed at her wonderingly. She kissed his forehead, and withdrew to the other room.