‘So you have found it!’ exclaimed Sidney with pleasure.  ’I’ve been looking about for you as I walked along the streets these last two or three days.’

‘Looking for me?’ said the other, astonished.

Sidney supplied the explanation, but without remarking on the circumstances which made Jane so anxious to discover a possible friend.  Snowdon listened attentively, and at length, with a slight smile; he seemed to find pleasure in the young man’s way of expressing himself.  When silence ensued, he looked about absently for a moment; then, meeting Sidney’s eyes, said in a grave voice: 

‘That poor child is very ill.’

‘Ill?  I’m sorry to hear it.’

’The reason I’ve come to you, Mr. Kirkwood, is because she’s called out your name so often.  They don’t seem able to tell me how she came into this state, but she’s had a fright of some kind, or she’s been living very unhappily.  She calls on your name, as if she wanted you to protect her from harm.  I didn’t know what to think about it at first.  I’m a stranger to everybody—­I may tell you I’ve been abroad for several years—­and they don’t seem very ready to put trust in me; but I decided at last that I’d come and speak to you.  It’s my grandchild, and perhaps the only one of my family left; nobody can give me news of her father since he went away four or five years ago.  She came to herself this morning for a little, but I’m afraid she couldn’t understand what I tried to tell her; then I mentioned your name, and I could see it did her good at once.  What I wish to ask of you is, would you come to her bedside for a few minutes?  She might know you, and I feel sure it would be a kindness to her.’

Sidney appeared to hesitate.  It was not, of course, that he dreamt of refusing, but he was busy revolving all he knew of Jane’s life with the Peckovers, and asking himself what it behoved him to tell, what to withhold.  Daily experience guarded him against the habit of gossip, which is one of the innumerable curses of the uneducated (whether poor or wealthy), and, notwithstanding the sympathy with which his visitor inspired him, he quickly decided to maintain reserve until he understood more of the situation.

‘Yes, yes; I’ll go with you at once,’ he made haste to reply, when he perceived that his hesitancy was occasioning doubt and trouble.  ’In fact, I was just starting to go and see the Hewetts when you knocked at the door.  They’re friends of mine—­living in Mrs. Peckover’s house.  That’s how I came to know Jane.  I haven’t been there for several days, and when I last saw her, as I was saying, she seemed as well as usual.’

‘I’m afraid that wasn’t much to boast of,’ said Snowdon.  ’She’s a poor, thin-looking child.’

Sidney was conscious that the old man did not give expression to all he thought.  This mutual exercise of tact seemed, however, to encourage a good understanding between them rather than the reverse.