 in the silence
that followed. Which silence having been broken by a tap at the door, oddly
enough there stood Joseph himself. Hewett, taken by surprise, showed
embarrassment and awkwardness; it was always hard for him to reconcile his
present subordination to Mr. Snowdon with the familiar terms on which they had
been not long ago.
    »Ah, you here, Hewett!« exclaimed Joseph, in a genial tone, designed to put
the other at his ease. »I just wanted a word with our friend. Never mind; some
other time.«
    For all that, he did not seem disposed to withdraw, but stood with a hand on
the door, smiling, Sidney, having nodded to him, walked the length of the room,
his head bent and his hands behind him.
    »Suppose I look in a bit later,« said Hewett. »Or tomorrow night, Sidney?«
    »Very well, to-morrow night.«
    John took his leave, and on the visitor who remained Sidney turned a face
almost of anger. Mr. Snowdon seated himself, supremely indifferent to the
inconvenience he had probably caused. He seemed in excellent humour.
    »Decent fellow, Hewett,« he observed, putting up one leg against the
fireplace. »Very decent fellow. He's getting old, unfortunately. Had a good deal
of trouble, I understand; it breaks a man up.«
    Sidney scowled, and said nothing.
    »I thought I'd stay, as I was here,« continued Joseph, unbuttoning his
respectable overcoat and throwing it open. »There was something rather
particular I had in mind. Won't you sit down?«
    »No, thank you.«
    Joseph glanced at him, and smiled all the more.
    »I've had a little talk with the old man about Jane. By-the-by, I'm sorry to
say he's very shaky; doesn't look himself at all. I didn't know you had spoken
to him quite so - you know what I mean. It seems to be his idea that
everything's at an end between you.« »Perhaps so.«
    »Well, now, look here. You won't mind me just - Do you think it was wise to
put it in that way to him? I'm afraid you're making him feel just a little
uncertain about you. I'm speaking as a friend, you know. In your own interest,
Kirkwood. Old men get queer ideas into their heads
