Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. III, 1889.djvu/161

Rh I had come to you yesterday, before going to her, and had told you what I meant to do, and explained all I felt, how the love of years ago had grown in me again, wouldn’t you have given me a friendly hand?”

“Just like I do now Do you think I have forgotten one night when she stood by me and saved me from cruel treatment, and then nursed me when I fell ill?”

Neither of them had the habit of making long speeches. They understood each other,—very nearly; sufficiently, at all events, to make the bond of sympathy between them stronger than ever. Jane was misled a little, for she thought that here was the explanation of Sidney’s withdrawing his word to her grandfather; doubtless he heard of the calamity when it happened. But on a more essential point she fell into no misconception. Did Sidney desire that she should?

He held her hand until she gently drew it a way.

“You will go up and tell grandfather,” she said, gravely; then added, before he could speak, “But I’ll just see him first for a minute. He hasn’t been out of his room this mornino; yet. Please wait here.”