Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. I, 1889.djvu/288

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
( 276 )

CHAPTER XIII.

THE BRINGER OF ILL NEWS.

Knowing the likelihood that Clara Hewett would go from home for Bank-holiday, Sidney made it his request before he left Hanover Street on Sunday night that Jane might be despatched on her errand at an early hour next morning. At eight o’clock, accordingly, Snowdon went forth with his grand-daughter, and, having discovered the street to which Sidney had directed him, he waited at a distance whilst Jane went to make her inquiries. In a few minutes the girl rejoined him.

“Miss Hewett has gone away,” she reported.

“To spend the day, do you mean?” was Snowdon’s troubled question.

“No, she has left the house. She went yesterday, in the afternoon. It was very