"Why, what a piece of special pleading!" cried Mahony, and leaning
forward, he kissed the young flushed face.
"Don't laugh at me. I'm in earnest."
"Why, no, child. But Polly, my dear, even if I were tempted for a moment
to think seriously of what you say, where would the money come from?
Fees are high, it's true, if the ball's once set a-rolling. But till
then? With a jewel of a wife like mine, I'd be a scoundrel to take
risks."
Polly had been waiting for this question. On hearing it, she sat back on
her heels and drew a deep breath. The communication she had now to make
him was the hub round which all turned. Should he refuse to consider
it.... Plucking at the fringe of the tablecloth, she brought out,
piecemeal, the news that John was willing to go surety for the money
they would need to borrow for the start. Not only that: he offered them
a handsome sum weekly to take entire charge of his children.--"Not
here, in this little house--I know that wouldn't do," Polly hastened to
throw in, forestalling the objection she read in Richard's eyes. Now did
he not think he should weigh an offer of this kind very carefully? A
name like John's was not to be despised; most people in their position
would jump at it. "I understand something about it," said the little
woman, and sagely nodded her head. "For when I was in Geelong, Mr.
Beamish tried his hardest to raise some money and couldn't, his sureties
weren't good enough.
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