Great sums of money, vague and disturbing to her imagination when she was bidden hold them in trust for unknown people, gleamed and made music now that she could think of them as a gift of love.  By this way of thought she could escape from the confusion in which Michael’s solemn appeal had left her.  Exalted by her great hope, calmed by the assurance of aid that would never fail her, she began to feel the beauty of the task to which she was summoned; the appalling responsibility became a high privilege now that it was to be shared with one in whose wisdom and strength she had measureless confidence.  She knew now what wealth meant; it was a great and glorious power, a source of blessings incalculable.  This power it would be hers to bestow, and no man more worthy than he who should receive it at her hands.

It was not without result that Jane had been so long a listener to the conversations between Michael and Kirkwood.  Defective as was her instruction in the ordinary sense, those evenings spent in the company of the two men had done much to refine her modes of thought.  In spite of the humble powers of her mind and her narrow experience, she had learned to think on matters which are wholly strange to girls of her station, to regard the life of the world and the individual in a light of idealism and with a freedom from ignoble association rare enough in any class.  Her forecast of the future to be spent with Sidney was pathetic in its simplicity, but had the stamp of nobleness.  Thinking of the past years, she made clear to herself all the significance of her training.  In her general view of things, wealth was naturally allied with education, but she understood why Michael had had her taught so little.  A wealthy woman is called a lady; yes, but that was exactly what she was not to become.  On that account she had gone to work, when in reality there was no need for her to do so.  Never must she remove herself from the poor and the laborious, her kin, her care; never must she forget those bitter sufferings of her childhood, precious as enabling her to comprehend the misery of others for whom had come no rescue.  She saw, moreover, what was meant by Michael’s religious teaching, why he chose for her study such parts of the Bible as taught the beauty of compassion, of service rendered to those whom the world casts forth and leaves to perish.  All this grew upon her, when once the gladness of her heart was revived.  It was of the essence of her being to exercise all human and self-forgetful virtues, and the consecration to a life of beneficence moved her profoundly now that it followed upon consecration to the warmer love.

When Sidney paid his next visit Jane was alone in the new sitting-room; her grandfather said he did not feel well enough to come down this evening.  It was the first time that Kirkwood had seen the new room.  After making his inquiries about Michael he surveyed the arrangements, which were as simple as they could be, and spoke a few words regarding the comfort Jane would find in them.  He had his hand on a chair, but did not sit down, nor lay aside his hat.  Jane suffered from a constraint which she had never before felt in his presence.