Polly Sparkes, for she it was, behaved
modestly but graciously. It was true she had exhibited short temper
in her passage with the officials, but Christopher thought this a
becoming spirit. In his eyes she was lovely, and could do nothing
amiss. When she alighted he did so too, frowning upon the conductor
by way of final rebuke. Their ways appeared to be the same, as if
inadvertently they walked together along Kennington Road. And so
pleasant was their conversation that Polly went some way past Mrs.
Bubb's before saying that she must bid her new companion good-bye.
Trembling at his audacity, Christopher humbly put the question
whether he might not hope to see the young lady again; and Polly
laughed and tittered, and said she didn't know, but _p'r'aps_.
Thereupon Mr. Parish nervously made an offering of his name and
address, and Polly, tittering again, exclaimed that they lived quite
near each other, and playfully made known the position of her
dwelling. So were the proprieties complied with, and so began the
enslavement of Christopher.
Pages:
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171