Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. III, 1889.djvu/163

Rh But I wanted to speak to you first. Grandfather, I was afraid you might say something about me. Will you—will you forget my foolishness? Will you think of me as you did before? When he has spoken to you, you will understand why I am content to put everything out of my mind, everything you and I talked of. But I couldn’t bear for him to know how I have disappointed you. Will you let me be all I was to you before? Will you trust me again, grandfather? You haven’t spoken to him yet about me, have you?”

Michael shook his head.

“Then you will let it be as if nothing had happened? Grandfather”

She bent beside him and took his hand. Michael looked at her with a light once more in his eyes.

“Tell him to come. He shall hear nothing from me, Jane.”

“And you will try to forget it?”

“I wish nothing better. Tell him to come here, my child. When he’s gone we’ll talk together again.”

The interview did not last long, and Sidney