Through the chink, Polly, shrunk to her smallest--what if one of them
should feel hungry, and come into the pantry and discover her?--Polly
heard Purdy say with appalling loudness: "Oh, go on, old man-don't jaw
so!" He then seemed to plunge his head in the basin, for it was with a
choke and a splutter that he next inquired: "And what did you think of
the little 'un? Wasn't I right?"
There was the chink of coins handled, and the other voice answered:
"Here's what I think. Take your money, my boy, and be done with it!"
"Dick!--Great Snakes! Why, damn it all, man, you don't mean to tell me.
. . ."
"And understand, sir, in future, that I do not make bets where a lady is
concerned."
"Oh, I know--only on the Tilly-Jinny-sort. And yet good Lord, Dick!"--
the rest was drowned in a bawl of laughter.
Under cover of it Polly took to her heels and fled, regardless of the
open door, or the padding of her bare feet on the boards.
Without replying to the astonished Jinny's query in respect of the
water, she climbed over Tilly to her place beside the wall, and shutting
her eyes very tight, drew the sheet over her face: it felt as though it
would never be cool again.--Hence, Jinny, agreeably wakeful, was forced
to keep her thoughts to herself; for if you lie between two people, one
of whom is in a bad temper, and the other fast asleep, you might just as
well be alone in bed.
Next morning Polly alleged a headache and did not appear at breakfast.
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