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.
‘You know what grandfather has been telling me?’ she said at length, regarding him with grave eyes.
‘Yes. He told me of his intention.’
‘I asked him if I might speak to you about it. It was hard to understand at first.’
‘It would be, I’ve no doubt.’
Jane moved a little, took up some sewing, and seated herself. Sidney let his hat drop on to the chair, but remained standing, his arms resting on the back.
‘It’s a very short time since I myself knew of it,’ he continued. ‘Till then, I as little imagined as you did that—’ He paused, then resumed more quickly, ‘But it explains many things which I had always understood in a simpler way.’
‘I feel, too, that I know grandfather much better than I did,’ Jane said. ‘He’s always been thinking about the time when I should be old enough to hear what plans he’d made for me. I do so hope he really trusts me, Mr. Kirkwood! I don’t know whether I speak about it as he wishes. It isn’t easy to say all I think, but I mean to do my best to be what he—’
‘He knows that very well. Don’t be anxious; he feels that all his hopes have been realised in you.’
There was silence. Jane made a pretence of using her needle, and Sidney watched her hands.