Now, given Jane’s character, which he believed he had sounded; given her love for Kirkwood, which was obviously causing her anxiety and unhappiness; Joseph saw his way to an admirable piece of strategy.  What could be easier, if he played his cards well and patiently enough, than to lead Jane to regard the fortune as her most threatening enemy?  Valuable results might come of that, whether before or after the death of the old man.

The conversation in which he first ventured to strike this note undisguisedly took place on the same evening as that unpleasant scene when Sidney as good as quarrelled with him—­the evening before the day on which Sidney asked Clara Hewett to be his wife.  Having found Jane alone, he began to talk in his most paternal manner, his chair very near hers, his eyes fixed on her sewing.  And presently, when the ground was prepared: 

’Jane, there’s something I’ve been wanting to say to you for a long time.  My dear, I’m uneasy about you.’

‘Uneasy, father?’ and she glanced at him nervously.

’Yes, I’m uneasy.  But whether I ought to tell you why, I’m sure I don’t know.  You’re my own child, Janey, and you become dearer to me every day; but—­it’s hard to say it—­there naturally isn’t all the confidence between us that there might have been if—­well, well, I won’t speak of that.’

‘But won’t you tell me what makes you anxious?’

He laid the tips of his fingers on her head.  ’Janey, shall you be offended if I speak about Mr. Kirkwood?’

‘No, father.’

She tried in vain to continue sewing.

‘My dear—­I believe there’s no actual engagement between you?’

‘Oh no, father,’ she replied, faintly.

’And yet—­don’t be angry with me, my child—­I think you are something more than friends?’

She made no answer.

’And I can’t help thinking, Janey—­I think about you very often indeed—­that Mr. Kirkwood has rather exaggerated views about the necessity of—­of altering things between you.’

Quite recently Joseph had become aware of the under. standing between Michael and Kirkwood.  The old man still hesitated to break the news to Jane, saying to himself that it was better for Sidney to prepare her by the change in his behaviour.

‘Of altering things?’ Jane repeated, under her breath.

‘It seems to me wrong—­wrong to both of you,’ Joseph pursued, in a pathetic voice.  ’I can’t help noticing my child’s looks.  I know she isn’t what she used to be, poor little girl!  And I know Kirkwood isn’t what he used to be.  It’s very hard, and I feel for you—­for both of you.’

Jane sat motionless, not daring to lift her eyes, scarcely daring to breathe.

‘Janey.’

’ Yes, father.’

’I wonder whether I’m doing wrong to your grandfather in speaking to you confidentially like this?  I can’t believe he notices things as I do; he’d never wish you to be unhappy.’