"Well! of all the . . . What
for? What on earth for? 'As somebody gone and left 'im a fortune? Or 'as
'e been appointed pillmonger-in-ordinary to the Queen 'erself? What is
it, Mary? What's up?"
What indeed! This was the question Mary dreaded, and one that would leap
to every tongue: why was he going? She sat on the horns of a dilemma. It
was not in her to wound people's feelings by blurting out the truth--
this would also put Richard in a bad light--and, did she give no reason
at all, many would think he had taken leave of his senses. Weakly, in a
very un-Maryish fashion, she mumbled that his health was not what it
should be, and he had got it into his head that for this the climate of
the colony was to blame. Nothing would do him but to return to England.
"I never! No, never in my born days did I hear tell of such a thing!"
and Tilly, exploding, brought her closed fist heavily down on her knee.
"Mary! . . . for a mere maggot like that, to chuck up a practice such as
'e's got. Upon my word, my dear, it looks as if 'e was touched 'ere,"--
and she significantly tapped her forehead. "Ha! Now I understand. You
know I've seen quite well, love, you've been looking a bit down in the
mouth of late. And so 'as pa noticed it, too. After you'd gone the other
day, 'e said to me: 'Looks reflexive-like does the little lady nowadays;
as if she'd got something on 'er mind.' And I to him: 'Pooh! Isn't it
enough that she's got to put up with the cranks and crotchets of one o'
YOUR sect?'--Oh Mary, my dear, there's many a true word said in jest.
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