"
"Never was till to-day, you know," said Tom, laughing, yet looking
as if he felt the dignity of his one and twenty years. "Odd, is n't it,
how people live together ever so long, and don't seem to find one
another out, till something comes to do it for them. Perhaps this
smash-up was sent to introduce me to my own father."
"There 's philosophy for you," said Polly, smiling, even while she
felt as if adversity was going to do more for Tom than years of
prosperity.
They both sat quiet for a minute, Polly in the big chair looking at
him with a new respect in her eyes, Tom on the stool near by
slowly tearing up a folded paper he had absently taken from the
floor while he talked.
"Did this surprise you?" he asked, as a little white shower fluttered
from his hands.
"No."
"Well, it did me; for you know as soon as we came to grief I
offered to release Trix from the engagement, and she would n't let
me," continued Tom, as if, having begun the subject, he wished to
explain it thoroughly.
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