here came back upon
him the repugnance with which he had regarded Clara's proposal when it
was first made.

It seemed to him that he had waited nearly half an hour when Clara came
forth again. In silence she walked on beside him. Again they crossed by
the 'Angel' and entered St. John Street Road.

'You've made your arrangements?' Sidney said, now that there were few
people passing.

'Yes; I shall go on Monday.'

'You're going to live there altogether?'

'Yes; it'll be more convenient, and then it'll give them more room at
home. Bob can sleep with the children, and save money.'

'To be sure!' observed the young man with bitter irony.

Clara flashed a glance at him. It was a new thing for Sidney to take
this tone with her; not seldom he had expressed unfavourable judgments
by silence, but he had never spoken to her otherwise than with
deference and gentleness.

'You don't seem in a very good temper to-night, Mr. Kirkwood.' she
remarked in a suave tone.

He disregarded her words, but in a few moments turned upon her and said
scornfully:

'I hope you'll enjoy the pleasant, ladylike work you've found! I should
think it'll improve your self-respect to wait on the gentlemen of Upper
Street!'

Irony is not a weapon much in use among working people; their wits in
general are too slow. With Sidney, however, it had always been a habit
of speech in indignant criticism, and sympathy made him aware that
nothing would sting Clara more acutely. He saw that he was successful
when she turned her head away and moved it nervously.

'And do you suppose I go there because the place pleases me?' she asked
in a cold, hostile voice. 'You make a great mistake, as you always do
when you pretend to know anything about me. Wait till I've learned a
little about the business; you won't find me in Upper Street then.'

'I understand.'

Again they walked on in silence. They were nearing Clerkenwell Close,
and had to pass a corner of the prison in a dark lane, where the wind
moaned drearily. The line of the high blank wall was relieved in
colourless gloom against a sky of sheer night. Opposite, the shapes of
poverty-eaten houses and grimy workshops stood huddling in the
obscurity. From near at hand came shrill voices of children chasing
each other about--children playing at midnight between slum and gaol!

'We're not likely to see much of each other after to-night,' said
Sidney, stopping.

'The less the better, I should say, if this