Bob looked more disreputable than ever. His eyes were fixed on Jane, and with such a singular expression that the latter, meeting their gaze, felt startled, she did not know why. At the same moment he stepped down from the threshold and walked away without speaking. ‘I shouldn’t care to have _him_ for a ’usband,’ pursued Mrs. Griffin. ‘Of course he must go an’ lose his work, just when his wife’s wantin’ a few little extries, as you may say.’ ‘Lost his work?’ ‘Day ’fore yes’day. I don’t like him, an’ I don’t like his ways; he’ll be gettin’ into trouble before long, you mind what I say. His family’s a queer lot, ’cordin’ to what they tell. Do you know them, Miss?’ ‘I used to, a long time ago.’ ‘You knew his sister—her as is come ’ome?’ ‘His sister?’ ‘Her as was a actress. Mrs. Bannister was tellin’ me only last night; she had it from Mrs. Horrocks, as heard from a friend of hers as lives in the Farrin’don Buildin’s, where the Hewetts lives too. They tell me it was in the Sunday paper, though I don’t remember nothing about it at the time. It seems as how a woman threw vitriol over her an’ burnt her face so as there’s no knowin’ her, an’ she goes about with a veil, an’ ’cause she can’t get her own livin’ no more, of course she’s come back ’ome, for all she ran away an’ disgraced herself shameful.’ Jane gazed fixedly at the speaker, scarcely able to gather the sense of what was said. ‘Miss Hewett, you mean? Mr. Hewett’s eldest daughter?’ ‘So I understand.’ ‘She has come home? When?’ ‘I can’t just say; but a few weeks ago, I believe. They say it’s nearly two months since it was in the paper.’ ‘Does Mrs. Hewett know about it?’ ‘I can’t say. She’s never spoke to me as if she did. And, as I tell you, I only heard yes’day myself. If you’re a friend of theirs, p’r’aps I hadn’t oughtn’t to a’ mentioned it. It just come to my lips in the way o’ tallin’. Of course I don’t know nothin’ about the young woman myself; it’s only what you comes to ‘ear in the way o’ talkin’, you know.’ This apology was doubtless produced by the listener’s troubled countenance. Jane asked no further question, but said she would come to see Pennyloaf on the morrow, and so took her leave. At ten o’clock next morning, just when Jane was preparing for her visit to Merlin Place, so possessed with anxiety to ascertain if Pennyloaf knew anything about Clara Hewett that all her troubles were for the moment in the back ground, Bessie Byass came running upstairs with a strange announcement. Sidney Kirkwood had called, and wished to see Miss Snowdon in private for a few minutes. ‘Something must have happened,’ said Jane, her heart standing still. Bessie had a significant smile, but suppressed it when she noticed the agitation into which her friend was fallen. ‘Shall I ask him up into the front-room?’