been familiar to him from youth upwards; but his nature was not
subdued to what it worked in, and the present fit of disgust was
only an accentuation of a mood by which he was often possessed. To
the Hewetts he had spoken impartially of Mrs. Tubbs and her bar;
probably that was the right view; but now there came back upon him
the repugnance with which he had regarded Clara's proposal when it
was first made.

It seemed to him that he had waited nearly half an hour when Clara
came forth again. In silence she walked on beside him. Again they
crossed by the 'Angel' and entered St. John Street Road.

'You've made your arrangements?' Sidney said, now that there were
few people passing.

'Yes; I shall go on Monday.'

'You're going to live there altogether?'

'Yes; it'll be more convenient, and then it'll give them more room
at home. Bob can sleep with the children, and save money.'

'To be sure!' observed the young man with bitter irony.

Clara flashed a glance at him. It was a new thing for Sidney to take
this tone with her; not seldom he had expressed unfavourable
judgments by silence, but he had never spoken to her otherwise than
with deference and gentleness.

'You don't seem in a very good temper to-night, Mr. Kirkwood.' she