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During these summer months Sidney Kirkwood's visits to the house in Clerkenwell Close were comparatively rare. It was not his own wish to relax in any degree the close friendship so long subsisting between the Hewetts and himself, but from the day of Clara's engagement with Mrs. Tubbs John Hewett began to alter in his treatment of him.
The expression of pain on his forehead and about his lips testified to the sincerity with which he urged his views, at the same time to a lurking fear lest impulse should be misleading him. Hewett kept silence, in aspect as far as ever from yielding. Of a sudden he raised his hand, and said, 'Husht! There was a familiar step on the stairs. Then the door opened and admitted Clara.
"How the house came to know of you is more than I can say. They don't tell me all the outs-an'-ins of their affairs, you know. As to a house sendin' a sailor-boy as its messenger did you ever hear of the great house of Messrs. Hewett and Company, what supplies Billin'sgate with fish?"
She did not answer immediately, but finished drawing off her gloves and rolled them up by turning one over the other. Then she said indifferently: 'I've been to see Mrs. Tubbs. 'And who gave you leave? asked Hewett with irritation. 'I don't see that I needed any leave. I knew she was coming here to speak to you or mother, so I went, after work, to ask what you'd said.
'Seen young Kirkwood lately? Hewett asked, averting his eyes and assuming a tone of half-absent indifference. 'He's gone away for his holiday; gone into Essex somewhere. When was it he was speaking of you? Why, one day last week, to be sure. 'Speakin' about me, eh? said John, turning his glass round and round on the table.
Instead of the public-house, he frequented all places where the woes of the nether world found fierce expression. He became a constant speaker at the meetings on Clerkenwell Green and at the Radical clubs. The effect upon him of this excitement was evil enough, yet not so evil as the malady of drink. Mrs. Hewett was thankful for the alternative. But when she was no longer at his side what then?
Joseph, after further musing, decided that it would be just as well to do so; suppose Clem called upon them and presented the husband of whom she was so proud? He would like, if possible, to hear a little more about their daughter; an idea he had never mind exactly what. So this call was paid, and in a few weeks Joseph had established an acquaintance with John Hewett.
'What's up with you, Jane? asked Clara, for it was she who, not being yet in bed, had come forth at once on hearing the scream. Jane could only cling to her garment, pant hysterically, repeat the same words of entreaty again and again. Another door opened, and John Hewett appeared half-dressed. 'What's wrong? he cried. 'The 'ouse o' fire? Who yelled out like that?
Strangely enough this feeling expressed itself one day in the form of a rebuke to Bob for neglecting Pennyloaf Pennyloaf, whom John had always declined to recognise. 'I hear no good of your goin's on, remarked Hewett, on a casual encounter in the street. 'A married man ought to give up the kind of company as you keep. 'I do no harm, replied Bob bluntly. 'Has my wife been complaining to you?
Snowdon, for some reason of his own, maintained a slight intercourse with the Peckovers, and through them he endeavoured to establish an intimacy with Hewett; but the project utterly failed. Probably on Kirkwood's account, John met the old man's advances with something more than coldness.
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