another way. In himself Sidney was
experiencing its pure effects, and it was owing to his conviction of
Jane's power for good that he had made her acquainted with Bob Hewett's
wife. Snowdon warmly approved of this; the suggestion led him to speak
expressly of Jane, a thing he very seldom did, and to utter a strong
wish that she should begin to concern herself with the sorrows she
might in some measure relieve.

Sidney joined in the laughter he had excited by picturing himself the
parson of the parish. But the topic under discussion was a serious one,
and Jane speedily recovered her gravity.

'Yes, I see how hard it is,' she said. 'But it's a cruel thing for him
to neglect poor Pennyloaf as he does. She never gave him any cause.'

'Not knowingly, I quite believe,' replied Kirkwood. 'But what a
miserable home it is!'

'Yes.' Jane shook her head. 'She doesn't seem to know how to keep
things in order. She doesn't seem even to understand me when I try to
show her how it might be different.'

'There's the root of the trouble, Jane. What chance had Pennyloaf of
ever learning how to keep a decent home, and bring up her children
properly? How was _she_ brought up? The wonder is that there's so much
downright good in her; I feel the same wonder about people every day.
Suppose Pennyloaf behaved as badly as her mother does, who on earth
would have the right to blame her? But we can't expect miracles; so
long as she lives decently, it's the most that can be looked for. And
there you are; that isn't enough to keep a fellow like Bob Hewett in
order. I doubt whether any wife would manage it, but as for poor
Pennyloaf--'

'I shall speak to him myself,' said Jane quietly.

'Do! There's much more hope in that than in anything I could say. Bob
isn't a bad fellow; the worst thing I know of him is his conceit. He's
good-looking, and he's clever in all sorts of ways, and unfortunately
he can't think of anything but his own merits. Of course he'd no
business to marry at all whilst he was nothing but a boy.'

Jane plied her needle, musing.

'Do you know whether he ever goes to see his father?' Sidney inquired
presently.

'No, I don't,' Jane answered, looking at him, but immediately dropping
her eyes.

'If he doesn't I should think worse of him. Nobody ever had a kinder
father, and there's many a reason why he should be careful to pay the
debt he owes.'

Jane waited a moment, then again raised her eyes to him. It seemed as
thou