Gammon first read it, then looked for a date, but none was
discernible.
"When did you get this?" he asked.
Mrs. Clover could mention the very day, and on reflecting Gammon
felt sure that Polly must have written this just before the exciting
events which threw him and her into each other's arms. In the same
moment he recalled Polly's eagerness to become possessed of a letter
she had posted to him--the letter he was not to open.
"You may well say it's queer." He laughed and laughed again. "She
gives me a nice character, eh? And you've been wondering what I'd
done? All I've got to say is, that it's a blessed lie from beginning
to end. But perhaps you won't believe me?"
"I will believe you if you tell me plain and straight that you
hadn't done anything wrong--nothing to be ashamed of."
"Well, then, I do tell you that. I never gave her the least cause to
speak of me in that way. It's all lies."
"I more than half thought it was."
Mrs. Clover heaved a sigh and looked more cheerful.
"And what," she added, "does she mean about marrying a gentleman?"
"That's more than I can tell you.
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