had
joined in the domestic plot for sending Polly to "Coventry"--a phrase,
by the by, which would hardly have been understood in Mrs. Bubb's
household; he argued that it might do her good, and that in any case
some such demonstration was called for by her outrageous temper. If
Polly could not get on with people who were sincerely her friends and
had always wished her well, let her go elsewhere and exercise her
ill-humour on strangers. Gammon did not believe that she would go; day
after day he expected to hear that the quarrel was made up, and that
Polly had cleared her reputation by a few plain words.

But this was the last day save one of Polly's week, and as yet she had
given no sign. On coming down into the kitchen to discuss his fried
eggs and bacon he saw at once that Mrs. Bubb was seriously perturbed;
with huffings and cuffings--a most unusual thing--she had just
despatched her children to school, and was now in conflict with Moggie
about a broken pie-dish, which the guilty general had concealed in the
back-yard. A prudent man in the face of such tempers, Gammon sat down
without speaking, and fell to on the viands which Mrs. Bubb--also
silent--set before him. In a minute or two, having got rid of Moggie
and closed the kitchen door, Mrs. Bubb came near and addressed him in a
subdued voice.

"What d'you think? It's her uncle! It's Clover!"

"Eh? What is?"

"Why, it's him as 'as been giving her things."

"Has she said so?" asked Gammon, with eager interest.

"I met her as she was coming down just now and she was in a tearin'
rage, and she says to me, she says, 'When you see my awnt,' she says,
'you tell her I know all about her 'usband, and that I wouldn't tell
_her_ anything not if she went down on her bended knees! There now!'"

The uneducated man may perchance repeat with exactness something that
has been said to him, or in his hearing; for the uneducated woman such
accuracy is impossible. Mrs. Bubb meant to be strictly truthful, but in
the nature of things she would have gone astray, even had Polly's
message taken a much simpler form than wrathful sarcasm gave to it.
However, she conveyed the spirit of Polly's words, and Gammon was so
excited by the report that he sprang up, overturning his cup of coffee.

"Oh, cuss it! Never mind; most's gone on to my trousers. She said that?
And to think we never thought of it! Where is she? When'll she be back?"

"I don't know. But she says she's going to leave to-m