I might--I can't say--but I might do some good.' To this Sidney gave willing assent, but without sanguine expectation.
In further talk it was agreed between them that, if this step had no result, John Hewett ought to be immediately informed of the state of things.
This was at ten o'clock on Sunday evening.

So do we play our tragi-comedies in the eye of fate.
The mention of Jane led to a brief conversation regarding her before Sidney took his leave.

Since her recovery she had been going regularly to school, to make up for the time of which she had been defrauded by Mrs.Peckover.Her grand-father's proposal was, that she should continue thus for another six months, after which, he said, it would be time for her to learn a business.

Mrs.Byass had suggested the choice of artificial-flower making, to which she herself had been brought up; possibly that would do as well as anything else.
'I suppose so,' was Sidney's reluctant acquiescence.

'Or as ill as anything else, would be a better way to put it.' Snowdon regarded him with unusual fixedness, and seemed on the point of making some significant remark; but immediately his face expressed change of purpose, and he said, without emphasis: 'Jane must be able to earn her own living.' Sidney, before going home, walked round to the street in which he had already lingered several times to-day, and where yesterday he had spoken with Clara.