III

JOSEPH TRANSACTS MUCH BUSINESS

Amid the anguish of heart and nerve which she had to endure whilst her
grandfather lay dead in the house, Jane found and clung to one thought
of consolation. He had not closed his eyes in the bitterness of
disappointment. The end might have come on that miserable day when her
weakness threatened the defeat of all his hopes, and how could she then
have borne it? True or not, it would have seemed to her that she had
killed him; she could not have looked on his face, and all the rest of
her life would have been remorsefully shadowed. Now the dead features
were unreproachful; nay, when she overcame her childish tremors and
gazed calmly, it was easy to imagine that he smiled. Death itself had
come without pain. An old man, weary after his long journeys, after his
many griefs and the noble striving of his thought, surely he rested
well.

During the last days he had been more affectionate with her than was
his habit; she remembered it with gratitude. Words of endearment seldom
came to his lips, but since the reconciliation he had more than once
spoken tenderly. Doubtless he was anxious to assure her that she had
again all his confidence. Strengthening herself in that reflection, she
strove to put everything out of her mind save the duty which must
henceforth direct her. Happily, there could be no more strife with the
promptings of her weaker self; circumstances left but one path open
before her; and that, however difficult, the one she desired to tread.
Henceforth memory must dwell on one thing only in the past, her rescue
by Michael Snowdon, her nurture under his care. Though he could no
longer speak, the recollection of his words must be her unfailing
impulse. In her his spirit must survive, his benevolence still be
operative.

At her wish, her father acquainted Sidney Kirkwood with what had
happened. Sidney did not visit her, but he wrote a letter, which,
having read it many times, she put carefully away to be a resource if
ever her heart failed. Mr. Percival came to the house on Monday, in the
company of Joseph Snowdon; he was sympathetic, but made no direct
reference to her position either now or in the future. Whilst he and
her father transacted matters of business in the upper rooms, Jane
remained downstairs with Mrs. Byass. Before quitting the house he asked
her if she had had any communication with Miss Lant yet.

'I ought to write and tell her,' replied Jane.

'I will do s