HENRY, WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN SO COLD AND STERN!
Though how I shall ever manage to
leave my dear papeh, I do not know. However, in the end he allowed himself tobe
persuaded; and off they went, in company. A musical party at the Timms-Kellys
tempted even Mahony forth. Why, I yearn,dearest, simply yearn to show them a
mothers love. But I dont think weought to be discussing her.
For neither did
the little ones take to her. I haveneeded neither to diet myself for a gouty
constitution, nor to coddlemyself in flannel. Then after all it must beJohns
health that was causing him anxiety.
THEY NEVER WANTED ME WHEN I WAS AMONGTHEM;
WHY ON EARTH SHOULD THEY MISS ME NOW? HE ADMITTED HE WAS AT HIS WITS END TOKNOW
WHAT TO DO WITH HER.
I should hate her to thinkwe didnt consider her good
enough to introduce to our friends. Ontwo occasions afterwards, I found him
there.
Much less consideration was shown him personally than in the oldBallarat
days. Marys next letter bore the heading Yarangobilly, and ran:YOU SEE WHERE I
AM NOW. I THINK ITS TIME I CAME HOME TOLOOK AFTER YOU.
But its another story,
eh, when John the Great comes in question?
For my part I cannot admit tofeeling
a day older than I did ten years back.
At forty-six a man is in the prime of
hislife!
Painters andpaperhangers were already hard at work.
All my life, love,
I have preferred thecompany of ELDERLY gentlemen. AND I DO FEEL SO GLAD I
WENTAND DIDNT LET MYSELF BE PERSUADED NOT TO.
Even more disturbing was the
visit of Mrs.
But shereally is a dear, warm-hearted creature. Painters
andpaperhangers were already hard at work.
There was noescape from her strident
voice, her empty, noisy laugh.
I THINK ITS TIME I CAME HOME TOLOOK AFTER YOU.
Your friend Lizzie is a veritable Leyden jar. Her discomfiture showed in the
way she now flared up. On the occasion of last seeing Purdy,they had both been
giddy with excitement.
When Emmy shepherded the little girls to their nursery,
he turned toJohn. Theexcitement of the wedding, new frocks, new dolls, helped
them over thebreak. Much less consideration was shown him personally than in
the oldBallarat days.
STILL, WILLY HAS HAD SO MANY FANCIES IN HIS DAY, ITHINK
LOUISA NEEDNT TAKE THIS ONE TOO SERIOUSLY. Surely the wordimplies somebody with
whom one has at least HALF an idea in common? Before a week wasout, Mahony
swore he would prefer fewer virtues and more tact. But thechange in his manner
was even more striking.
The grass has been green overthat for what seems like
half a century. Nor yet the doctrine of the Fall of a perfectman from grace.
In
his attire he grew almost as dapper as ofold.
|