Compared with Ocock's own
takings, of course, his was a modest spoil; the lawyer had made a
fortune, and was now one of the wealthiest men in Ballarat. He had built
not only new and handsome offices on the crest of the hill, but also,
prior to his marriage, a fine dwelling-house standing in extensive
grounds on the farther side of Yuille's Swamp. Altogether it had been a
year of great and sweeping changes. People had gone up, gone down--had
changed places like children at a game of General Post. More than one of
Mahony's acquaintances had burnt his fingers. On the other hand, old
Devine, Polly's one-time market-gardener, had made his thousands. There
was actually talk of his standing for Parliament, in which case his wife
bid fair to be received at Government House. And the pair of them with
hardly an "h" between them!
From the sofa where he lay, Mahony could hear the murmur of his wife's
even voice. Polly sat the further end of the verandah talking to Jinny,
who dandled her babe in a rocking-chair that made a light tip-tap as it
went to and fro. Jinny said nothing: she was no doubt sunk in adoration
of her--or rather John's--infant; and Mahony all but dozed off, under
the full, round tones he knew so well.
In his case the saying had once more been verified: to him that hath
shall be given. Whether it was due to the better position of the new
house; or to the fact that easier circumstances gave people more leisure
to think of their ailments; or merely that money attracted money:
whatever the cause, his practice had of late made giant strides.
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