The Nether World

'My name is Snowdon. I should be glad to speak a

d the cloak. The hat, however, which had been described to him, was now exchanged for a soft felt of a kind

f crockery, sundries, and a few books. The walls, it is true, were otherwise ornamented than is usual; engravings, chromo-lithographs, and some sketches of landscape in pencil, were suspended wherever light fell, and the choice manifested in this colle

self on the chair Sidney offered. He was not entirely at his ease, and l

ver acquainted with my so

. 'I have heard his name, and I know

d of you from people a grandchild of mine is living with.

asure. 'I've been looking about for you as I walk

?' said the oth

iend. Snowdon listened attentively, and at length, with a slight smile; he seemed to find pleasure in the young man's way of exp

child is

sorry to

it at first. I'm a stranger to everybody-I may tell you I've been abroad for several years-and they don't seem very ready to put trust in me; but I decided at last that I'd come and speak to you. It's my grandchild, and perhaps the only one of my family left; nobody can give me news of her father since he went away four or five yea

what it behoved him to tell, what to withhold. Daily experience guarded him against the habit of gossip, which is one of the innumerable curses of the uneducated (whether

act, I was just starting to go and see the Hewetts when you knocked at the door. They're friends of mine-living in Mrs. Peckover's house. T

o boast of,' said Snowdon. 'Sh

ll he thought. This mutual exercise of tact seemed, however, to en

se?' Kirkwood asked as

l much confidence in the doctor that was seeing

surprise, they went up to the Hewetts' back-room. The mattress that formerly lay upon the floor had been removed; the bed was occupied by the

emark. 'I shouldn't say myself as it was good

ur dignity was meant to express that she felt hurt at the intervention of others where her affections were so nearly concerned. Sidney could not help a certain fe

was in the light, and, bending near to her, asked if she recognised him. A smile-slow-forming, but unmistakable at last-amply justified what her gra

lieve her; she lingered, but shortly left the room. Sidney, sitting by the bed, in a few minutes saw that Jane once more slept, or app

answered by Amy, who at

rkwood come

to see him,'

than four days ago. On the floor were two mattresses, covered to make bed

e getting much better

common enough occurrence; hours of waiting in an out-patients' room frequently do more harm than the

place,' she said; 'but, after all, it's a savin' of rent. It's a

ll ten or eleven o'clock. Good news so far. Then Mrs. Hewett began to speak with curiosity

ay about the girl?'

d; I thought it wisest. Do

h other people's business, is there? Fancy him comin' to see you! Mrs. Peckover's afraid of him, I can see that, though she pretends she isn't goin' to stand him interferin'. What do you think about him, Sidney? He's sent for a doctor out of Islington; wouldn't have nothin' to say to the other. He must have plenty of money, don't you think? Mrs. Peckover says he's goin' to pay the money owin' to her for Jane's keep. As if the poor thing hadn't more than paid for her bits of meals an' her b

take her away as soon as possible. He may have a little money; h

rol of himself when he talked with the Hewetts of their difficulties; the people were, from his point of view, so lacking in resource, so stubbornly rooted in profitless habit. Over and over again he had

length took his leave, and went

rom the chair where he had been sittin

re sick-room, of the white-headed man watching through the night; the picture impressed him in a way that could not be explained by its natural pathos merely; it kept suggesting all sorts of fan

terms of a certain intimacy with Snowdon. The latter mentioned at length that he was looking for two rooms, suitable for himself and J

thing in your street?'

nt which had already grown out of this intercourse. In Tysoe Street, however, no accommodation could be found. Sidney had another project in his thoughts; pursuing it, he paid a visit the next evening to certain acquaintances of his named Byass, who had a house in Hanover Street, Isli

ng, healthy-faced, comely woman, who evinced hearty pleasure on seeing who

u'd took offence with me, an' so I told Sam. Do you want to know how baby is? Why don't you ask, then, as you ought to do the first thing? He's a good deal better than he deserves to be, young rascal-all the trouble he gives me! He's fast asleep, I'm glad to say, so

? From Clar

get along, an' that's the truth. Why, when I met her on Sunday afternoon, she was that patronisin' you'd have thought she'd got a place in Wi

e gaiety which proved how little malice there was in her sati

ave to keep her friends with you,' he sai

. Kirkwood! Why, there's nobody else livin' would have been as patient with her as I always was. I'm not bad-tempered, I will say that for myself, an' I've put up with all sorts of things (me, a married woman), when anyone else would have boxed her ears an

nds. Sidney looked annoyed, but the contagion of such spontaneous merriment in the end brought another smile to his face.

window. I shouldn't wonder if I could

hat? No chil

ed Mrs. Byass; impossible to admit under the same roof with her baby a person who had just been ill. This scruple was, however, overcome; the two rooms at the top of the house-unfurnished-had been long vacant, owing to fastidiousness in Mr. and Mrs. B

aid it on a chair, winking the while at Sidney with his right eye; then he removed his overcoat, winking with the left eye. Thus disembarrassed, he strode gravely to the fireplace, took up the poker, held it in the manner of a weapon upright against his shoulder, and exclaimed in a severe voice, 'Eyes right!' Then, converting the poker into a sword, he drew near to Sidney

dkerchief at her eyes, 'what a fool

out his hand, and said with affected nasality, 'How do you do, sir? It's some time

ive him a smack on the side of the head, to please me! Sam, go an' wa

into his waistcoat pockets and peering about the room. 'Bri

thing at you. Baby's in bed, and

ossible. Mrs. Byass declared that if he would not s

in the doorway. 'Let's have three pots of six

hurled it at him. Samuel escaped just in time. T

steak pie! Let's get custards and cheese-cakes and French pastry! Let

e sounds of scuffling and screaming, and in the end of something produced

t wait a minute while

leaves; for Bessie had now and then a little 'mounting' to do for a shop in Upper Street, and in that way aided the income of the family. She was in even better spirits than usual at the prospect of letting her top-rooms. On hearing that piece of news, Samuel, who had just come from the nearest publ

ts-better than that of other households with which he was acquainted-better far, it seemed to him, than the aspirations which were threatening to lead poor Clara-who knew whithe

far; but when he had seen the interior of the house and talked with the landlady, his objections disappeared. Before anothe

room; a very little exertion still out-wearied her, and the strange things that had come to pass had made her habitually silent. She looked a

was Sidney's greeting. 'Didn't I te

came upon her face, an expression of joy that could not trust itself, th