" Mahony had not the heart to chide her for
discussing his private affairs with her brother. Indeed, he rather
admired the businesslike way she had gone about it. And he admitted
this, by ceasing to banter and by calling her attention to the various
hazards and inconveniences the step would entail.
Polly heard him out in silence. Enough for her, in the beginning, that
he did not decline off-hand. They had a long talk, the end of which was
that he promised to sleep over John's proposal, and delay fixing the
date of the auction till the morning.
Having yielded this point Mahony kissed his wife and sent her to bed,
himself going out with the dog for his usual stroll.
It was a fine night--moonless, but thick with stars. So much, at least,
could be said in favour of the place: there was abundant sky-room; you
got a clear half of the great vault at once. How he pitied, on such a
night, the dwellers in old, congested cities, whose view of the starry
field was limited to a narrow strip, cut through house-tops.
Yet he walked with a springless tread. The fact was, certain of his
wife's words had struck home; and in the course of the past year he had
learnt to put considerable faith in Polly's practical judgment. As he
wound his way up the little hill to which he had often carried his
perplexities, he let his pipe go out, and forgot to whistle Pompey off
butcher's garbage.
Sitting down on a log he rested his chin in his hands.
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