Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. III, 1889.djvu/296

 house-furnishing, you know. I suppose you’ll have your partnership in a few months?”

Extracts from a letter, with an American stamp, which Mr. Scawthorne read as he waited for his breakfast. It was the end of October, and cool enough to make the crackling fire grateful. Having mused over the epistle, our friend took up his morning paper and glanced at the report of criminal trials. Whilst he was so engaged his landlady entered, carrying a tray of appetising appearance.

“Good-morning, Mrs. Byass,” he said, with much friendliness. Then, in a lower voice, “There’s a fuller report here than there was in the evening paper. Perhaps you looked at it?”

“Well, yes, sir; I thought you wouldn’t mind,” replied Bessie, arranging the table.

“She’ll be taken care of for three years, at all events.”

“If you’d seen her that day she came here after Miss Snowdon, you’d understand how glad I feel that she’s out of the way. I’m sure I’ve been uneasy ever since. If ever there comes a rather loud knock at there I begin to tremble; I do indeed. I don’t think I shall ever get over it.”