Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. III, 1889.djvu/117

Rh Sidney was in anything but a mood to detect this little lapse in his visitor. He gave John a chair, but could not sit still himself. The garret was a spacious one, and whilst talking he moved from wall to wall.

“You know that I saw Clara last night? She told me she should mention it to you.”

“Yes, yes. I was afraid she’d never have made up her mind to it. It was the best way for you to see her alone first, poor girl! You won’t mind comin’ to us now, like you used?”

“Did she tell you what she wished to speak to me about?”

“Why, no, she hasn’t. Was there—anything particular?”

“She feels the time very heavy on her hands. It seems you don’t like the thought of her looking for employment?”

John rose from his chair and grasped the back of it.

“You ain’t a-goin’ to encourage her to leave us? It ain’t that you was talkin’ about, Sidney?”

“Leave you? Why, where should she go?”

“No, no; it’s all right; so long as you wasn’t thinkin’ of her goin’ away again. See,