Poor dear Tilly! she
would never see thirty again; and she need hardly have troubled, thought
Polly, to be insincere with her. But in the same breath she took back
the reproach. A woman herself, she understood something of the fear, and
shame, and heartburning that had gone to the making of the lie. Perhaps,
too, it was a gentle hint from Tilly what age she now wished to be
considered. And so Polly agreed, and said tenderly: yes, certainly, the
difference was very marked. Meanwhile Tilly flowed on. These were the
two chief objections. On the other hand, the old boy was ludicrously
smitten; and she thought one might trust her, Tilly B., to soon knock
him into shape. It would also, no doubt, be possible to squeeze a few
pounds out of him towards assisting "pa and ma" in their present
struggle. Again, as a married woman she would have a chance of helping
Jinny to find a husband: "Though Jinn's gone off so, Polly, I bet you'd
hardly know her if you met 'er in the street." To end all, a bird in
hand, etc.; and besides, what prospects had she, if she remained a
spinster?
So, when she was asked, Tilly accepted without further humming and
hawing an invitation to drive out in the smart dog-cart Mr. Ocock had
hired for the purpose; and Polly saw her off with many a small private
sign of encouragement. All went well. A couple of hours later Tilly came
flying in, caught Polly up in a bear's hug, and danced her round the
room. "My dear, wish me joy!--Oh, lor, Polly, I DO feel 'appy!" She was
wearing a large half-hoop of diamonds on her ring-finger: nothing would
do "old O.
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