Yes, the more he considered the plan, the better he liked it.
The one flaw in his satisfaction was the thought that if their child had
lived, no such smooth and simple arrangement would have been possible.
He could not have foisted a family on Turnham.
Now he waited with impatience for Polly to return--his reasonable
little Polly! But he did not hurry her. Polly was enjoying her holiday.
Having passed to Melbourne from Geelong she wrote:
JOHN IS SO VERY KIND. HE DOESN'T OF COURSE GO OUT YET HIMSELF, BUT I WAS
PRESENT WITH SOME FRIENDS OF HIS AT A VERY ELEGANT SOIREE. JOHN GAVE ME
A HEADDRESS COMPOSED OF BLACK PEARLS AND FROSTED LEAVES. HE MEANS TO GO
IN FOR POLITIES AS SOON AS HIS YEAR OF MOURNING IS UP.
Mahony replied:
ENJOY YOURSELF, MY HEART, AND SET ALL THE SIGHTS YOU CAN.
While into more than one of his letters he slipped a banknote.
FOR YOU KNOW I LIKE YOU TO PAY YOUR OWN WAY AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.
And at length the day came when he could lift his wife out of the coach.
She emerged powdered brown with dust and very tired, but radiantly
happy: it was a great event in little Polly's life, this homecoming, and
coming, too, strong and well. The house was a lively place that
afternoon: Polly had so much to tell that she sat holding her bonnet for
over an hour, quite unable to get as far as the bedroom; and even Long
Jim's mouth went up at the corners instead of down; for Polly had
contrived to bring back a little gift for every one.
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