The Nether World
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George Gissing >> The Nether World
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'Is Miss Snowdon in the house, Mrs. Byass?' Scawthorne went on to
inquire.
'Miss Snowdon? Yes.'
'This letter from America, which I found on coming in, contains news
she must hear--disagreeable news, I'm sorry to say.'
'About her father?' Bessie inquired anxiously.
Scawthorne nodded a grave and confidential affirmative. He had never
given Mrs. Byass reason to suppose that he knew anything of Joseph's
whereabouts, but Bessie's thoughts naturally turned in that
direction.
'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, and you cannot imagine the difficulties I have
overcome. But if I go away from this house, and leave you so lonely,
living such a hard life, there will be very little satisfaction for
me in my success. Let me try to make for you a happiness such as you
merit. It may seem as if we were very slightly acquainted, but I
know you well enough to esteem you more highly than any women I ever
met, and if you could but think of me--'
He was sincere. Jane had brought out the best in him. With the death
of Snowdon all his disreputable past seemed swept away, and he had
no thought of anything but a decent rectitude, a cleanly enjoyment
of existence, for the future. but Jane was answering:
'I can't change what I said before, Mr. Scawthorne. I am very
content to live as I do now. I have friends I am very fond of. Thank
you for your kindness--but I can't change.'
Without intending it, she ceased upon a word which to her hearer
conveyed a twofold meaning. He understood; offer what he might, it
could not tempt her to forget the love which had been the best part
of her life. She was faithful to the past, and unchanging.
Mrs. Byass never suspected the second purpose for which her lodger
had desired to speak with Jane this evening. Scawthorne in due time
took his departure, with many expressions of goodwill, many
assurances that nothing could please him better than to be of
service to Bessie and her husband.
'He wished me to say good-bye to you for him,' said Bessie, when
Jane came back from her work.
So the romance in her life was over. Michael Snowdon's wealth had
melted away; with it was gone for ever the hope of realising his
high projects. All passed into the world of memory, of dream--all
save the spirit which had ennobled him, the generous purpose
bequeathed to those two hearts. which had loved him best.
To his memory all days were sacred; but one, that of his burial,
marked itself for Jane as the point in each year to which her life
was directed, the saddest, yet bringing with it her supreme solace.
A day in early spring, cloudy, cold. She left the workroom in the
dinner-hour, and did net return. But instead of going to Hanover
Street, she walked past Islington Green, all along Essex Road,
northward thence to Stoke Newington, and so came to Abney Park
Cemetery; a long way, but it did not weary her.
In the cemetery she turned her steps to a grave with a, plain
headstone. Before leaving England, Joseph Snowdon had discharged
this duty. The inscription was simply a name, with dates of birth
and death.
And, as she stood there, other footsteps approached the spot. She
looked up, with no surprise, and gave her hand for a moment. On the
first anniversary the meeting had been unanticipated; the same
thought led her and Sidney to the cemetery at the same hour. This
was the third year, and they met as if by understanding, though
neither had spoken of it.
When they had stood in silence for a while, Jane told of her
father's death and its circumstances. She told him, too, of
Pennyloaf's humble security.
'You have kept well all the year?' he asked.
'And you too, I hope?'
Then they bade each other good-bye. . . .
In each life little for congratulation. He with the ambitions of his
youth frustrated; neither an artist, nor a leader of men in the
battle for justice. She, no saviour of society by the force of a
superb example; no daughter of the people, holding wealth in trust
for the people's needs. Yet to both was their work given. Unmarked,
unencouraged save by their love of uprightness and mercy, they stood
by the side of those more hapless, brought some comfort to hearts
less courageous than their own. Where they abode it was not all
dark. Sorrow certainly awaited them, perchance defeat in even the
humble aims that they had set themselves; but at least their lives
would remain a protest against those brute forces of society which
fill with wreck the abysses of the nether world.
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