I don't need to bother my head now over what's
to become of him . . . him or anyone else. My chief desire is to say
good-bye to this hole for ever. There's no sense, Polly, in my dawdling
on. Indeed, I haven't the money to do it. So I've arranged, my dear,
with our friend Ocock to come in and sell us off, as soon as you can get
our personal belongings put together."
Here Polly raised her head as if to interrupt; but Mahony, full of what
he had to say, ignored the movement, and went on speaking. He did not
wish to cause his wife uneasiness, by dwelling on his difficulties; but
some explanation was necessary to pave the way for his proposal that she
should remain behind, when he left the colony. He spent all his
eloquence in making this sound natural and attractive. But it was hard,
when Polly's big, astonished eyes hung on his face. "Do you think, for
my sake, you could be brave enough?" he wound up, rather unsurely. "It
wouldn't be for long, love, I'm certain of that. Just let me set foot in
England once more!"
"Why . . . why, yes, dear Richard, I . . . I think I could, if you
really wished it," said Polly in a small voice. She tried to seem
reasonable; though black night descended on her at the thought of
parting, and though her woman's eyes saw a hundred objections to the
plan, which his had overlooked. (For one thing, John had just installed
Sara as housekeeper, and Sara would take it very unkindly to be shown
the door.
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