rom her feelings, uttered gross confidences.
Polly knew well enough where her real inclination lay. "I've hoped
against hope, Poll, that a CERTAIN PERSON would come to the scratch at
last." Yes, it was true enough, he had nothing to offer her; but she
wasn't the sort to have stuck at that. "I'd have worked my hands to the
bone for 'im, Poll, if 'e'd ONLY said the word." The one drawback to
marriage with "you know 'oo" would have been his infirmity. "Some'ow,
Polly, I can't picture myself dragging a husband with a gammy leg at my
heels." From this, Tilly's mind glanced back to the suitor who had
honourably declared himself. Of course "old O." hadn't a great deal of
the gentleman about him; and their ages were unsuitable. "'E owns to
fifty-eight, and as you know, Poll, I'm only just turned twenty-five,"
at which Polly drooped her head a little lower over the handkerchief
she was hemming, to avoid meeting her friend's eye. Poor dear Tilly!
she would never see thirty again; and she need hardly have troubled,
thought Polly, to be insincere with her. But in the same breath she
took back the reproach. A woman herself, she understood something of
the fear, and shame, and heartburning that had gone to the making of
the lie. Perhaps, too, it was a gentle hint from Tilly what age she now
wished to be considered. And so Polly agreed, and said tenderly: yes,
certainly, the difference was very marked. Meanwhile Tilly flowed on.
These were the two chief objections. On the other hand, the old boy was
ludicrously smitten; and she thought one might trust her, Tilly B., to
soon knock him into shape. It would also, no doubt, be possible to
squeeze a few pounds out of him towards assisting "pa and ma" in their
present struggle. Again, as a married woman she would have a chance of
helping Jinny to find a husband: "Though Jinn's gone off so, Polly, I
bet you'd hardly know her if you met 'er in the street." To end all, a
bird in hand, etc.; and besides, what prospects had she, if she
remained a spinster?

So, when she was asked, Tilly accepted without further humming and
hawing an invitation to drive out in the smart dog-cart Mr. Ocock had
hired for the purpose; and Polly saw her off with many a small private
sign of encouragement. All went well. A couple of hours later Tilly
came flying in, caught Polly up in a bear's hug, and danced her round
the room. "My dear, wish me joy!--Oh, lor, Polly, I DO feel 'appy!" She
was wearing a large half-hoo