«
    »I'm sure I don't see how anyone could help liking her,« said Bessie,
inwardly delighted with the expectation of hearing at length what Jane's
circumstances really were.
    »Indeed, so good a friend,« pursued Joseph, »that I'm afraid it would
distress her if she could no longer live with you. And the fact is« - he bent
forward and smiled sadly - »I'm sure I may speak freely to you, Mrs. Byass - but
the fact is, that I'm very doubtful indeed whether she could be happy if she
lived with Mrs. Snowdon. I suppose there's always more or less difficulty where
step-children are concerned, and in this case-well, I fear the incompatibility
would be too great. To be sure, it places me in a difficult position. Jane's
very young - very young; only just turned seventeen, poor child! Out of the
question for her to live with strangers. I had some hopes - I wonder whether I
ought to speak of it? You know Mr. Kirkwood?«
    »Yes, indeed. I can't tell you how surprised I was, Mr. Snowdon. And there
seems to be such a mystery about it, too.«
    Bessie positively glowed with delight in such confidential talk. It was her
dread that Jane's arrival might put an end to it before everything was revealed.
    »A mystery, you may well say, Mrs. Byass. I think highly of Mr. Kirkwood,
very highly; but really in this affair! It's almost too painful to talk about -
to you.«
    Bessie blushed, as becomes the Englishwoman of mature years when she is
gracefully supposed to be ignorant of all it most behoves her to know.
    »Well, well; he is on the point of marrying a young person with whom I
should certainly not like my daughter to associate - fortunately there is little
chance of that. You were never acquainted with Miss Hewett?«
    »Ye - yes. A long time ago.«
    »Well, well; we must be charitable. You know that she is dreadfully
disfigured?«
    »Disfigured? Jane didn't say a word about that. She only told me that Mr.
Kirkwood was going to marry her, and I didn't like to ask too many questions. I
hadn't even heard as she was at home.«
    Joseph related to her the whole story, whilst Bessie fidgeted with
satisfaction.
    »I thought,« he
