Therefore, when
she announced her engagement, Tom looked so staggered for a
minute, that Fan thought he did n't like it; but after the first
surprise passed, he showed such an affectionate satisfaction, that
she was both touched and flattered.
"What do you think of this performance?" asked Tom, wheeling
round to Polly, who still sat by Mrs. Shaw, in the shadow of the
bed-curtains.
"I like it very much," she said in such a hearty tone, that Tom
could not doubt the genuineness of her pleasure.
"Glad of that. Hope you 'll be as well pleased with another
engagement that 's coming out before long"; and with an odd
laugh, Tom carried Sydney off to his den, leaving the girls to
telegraph to one another the awful message, "It is Maria Bailey."
How she managed to get through that evening, Polly never knew,
yet it was not a long one, for at eight o'clock she slipped out of the
room, meaning to run home alone, and not compel any one to
serve as escort. But she did not succeed, for as she stood warming
her rubbers at the dining-room fire, wondering pensively as she did
so if Maria Bailey had small feet, and if Tom ever put her rubbers
on for her, the little overshoes were taken out of her hands, and
Tom's voice said, reproachfully, "Did you really mean to run away,
and not let me go home with you?"
"I 'm not afraid; I did n't want to take you away," began Polly,
secretly hoping that she did n't look too pleased.
Pages:
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521