‘The news comes to me by chance,’ he continued.  ’I think I ought to communicate it to Miss Snowdon privately, and leave her to let you know what it is, as doubtless she will.  Would it be inconvenient to you to let me have the use of your parlour for five minutes?’

‘I’ll go and light the gas at once, and toil Miss Snowdon.’

‘Thank you, Mrs. Byass.’

He was nervous, a most unusual thing with him.  Till Bessie’s return he p aced the room irregularly, chewing the ends of his moustache.  When it was announced to him that the parlour was ready he went down, the letter in his hand.  At the half-open door came a soft knock.  Jane entered.

She showed signs of painful agitation.

’Will you sit down, Miss Snowdon?  It happens that I have a correspondent in the United States, who has lately had—­had business relations with Mr. Joseph Snowdon, your father.  On returning this evening I found a letter from my friend, in which there is news of a distressing kind,’

He paused.  What he was about to say was—­for once—­the truth.  The letter, however, came from a stranger, a lawyer in Chicago.

’Your father, I understand, has lately been engaged in—­in commercial speculation on a great scale.  His enterprises have proved unfortunate.  One of those financial crashes which are common in America caused his total ruin.’

Jane drew a deep breath.

’I am sorry to say that is not all.  The excitement of the days when his fate was hanging in the balance led to illness—­fatal illness.  He died on the sixth of February.’

Jane, with her eyes bent down, was motionless.  After a pause, Scawthorne continued: 

’I will speak of this with Mr. Percival to-morrow, and every inquiry shall be made—­on your behalf.’

‘Thank you, sir.’

She rose, very pale, but with more self-command than on entering the room.  The latter part of his communication seemed to have affected her as a relief.

’Miss Snowdon—­if you would allow me to say a few more words.  You will remember I mentioned to you that there was a prospect of my becoming a partner in the firm which I have hitherto served as clerk.  A certain examination had to be passed that I might be admitted a solicitor.  That is over; in a few days my position as a member of the firm will be assured.’

Jane waited, her eyes still east down.

’I feel that it may seem to you an ill-chosen time; but the very fact that I have just been the bearer of such sad news impels me to speak.  I cannot keep the promise that I would never revive the subject on which I spoke to you not long ago.  Forgive me; I must ask you again if you cannot think of me as I wish?  Miss Snowdon, will you let me devote myself to making your life happy?  It has always seemed to me that if I could attain a position such as I now have, there would be little else to ask for.  I began life poor and half-educated,