CHAPTER XIX. TOM'S SUCCESS

tberesisted,andPollywentstraightintothem,withoutaword. Nevermindwhathappenedforalittlebit.Lovescenes,ifgenuine,areindescribablefortothosewhohaveenactedthem,themostelaboratedescriptionseemstame,andtothosewhohavenot,thesimplestpictureseemsoverdone.Soromancershadbetterletimaginationpaintforthemthatwhichisaboveallart,andleavetheirloverstothemselvesduringthehappiestminutesoftheirlives. Beforelong,TomandPollyweresittingsidebyside,enjoyingtheblissfulstateofmindwhichusuallyfollowsthefirststepoutofourwork-a-dayworld,intotheglorifiedregionwhereinloversrapturouslyexistforamonthortwo.TomjustsatandlookedatPollyasifhefounditdifficulttobelievethatthewinterofhisdiscontenthadendedinthisgloriousspring.ButPolly,beingatruewoman,askedquestions,evenwhileshelaughedandcriedforjoy. “Now,Tom,howcouldIknowyoulovedmewhenyouwentawayandneversaidaword?”shebegan,inatenderlyreproachfultone,thinkingofthehardyearshehadspent. “AndhowcouldIhavethecouragetosayaword,whenIhadnothingonthefaceoftheearthtoofferyoubutmyworthlessself?”answeredTom,warmly. “ThatwasallIwanted!”whisperedPolly,inatonewhichcausedhimtofeelthattheraceofangelswasnotentirelyextinct. “I'vealwaysbeenfondofyou,myPolly,butIneverrealizedhowfondtilljustbeforeIwentaway.Iwasn'tfree,youknow,andbesidesIhadastrongimpressionthatyoulikedSydneyinspiteofthedamperwhichFanhintedyougavehimlastwinter.He'ssuchacapitalfellow,Ireallydon'tseehowyoucouldhelpit.” “ItisstrangeIdon'tunderstanditmyselfbutwomenarequeercreatures,andthere'snoaccountingfortheirtastes,”saidPolly,withaslylook,whichTomfullyappreciated. “Youweresogoodtomethoselastdays,thatIcameverynearspeakingout,butcouldn'tbeartoseemtobeofferingyouapoor,disgracedsortoffellow,whomTrixwouldn'thave,andnooneseemedtothinkworthmuch.'No,'Isaidtomyself,'PollyoughttohavethebestifSydcangether,lethim,andIwon'tsayaword.I'lltrytobebetterworthyherfriendship,anywayandperhaps,whenI'veprovedthatIcandosomething,andamnotashamedtowork,then,ifPollyisfree,Ishan'tbeafraidtotrymychance.'SoIheldmytongue,workedlikeahorse,satisfiedmyselfandothersthatIcouldgetmylivinghonestly,andthencamehometoseeiftherewasanyhopeforme.” “AndIwaswaitingforyouallthetime,”saidasoftvoiceclosetohisshoulderforPollywasmuchtouchedbyTom'smanlyeffortstodeserveher. “Ididn'tmeantodoitthefirstminute,butlookaboutmealittle,andbesureSydwasallright.ButFan'snewssettledthatpoint,andjustnowthelookinmyPolly'sfacesettledtheother.Icouldn'twaitanotherminute,orletyoueither,andIcouldn'thelpstretchingoutmyarmstomylittlewife,Godblessher,thoughIknowIdon'tdeserveher.” Tom'svoicegotlowerandlowerashespoke,andhisfacewasfullofanemotionofwhichheneednotbeashamed,foraverysincereloveennobledhim,makinghimhumble,whereashalloweraffectionwouldhavebeenproudofitssuccess.Pollyunderstoodthis,andfoundthehonest,heartyspeechofherlovermoreeloquentthanpoetryitself.Herhandstoleuptohischeek,andsheleanedherownconfidinglyagainsttheroughcoat,asshesaid,inherfranksimpleway,“Tom,dear,don'tsaythat,asifIwasthebestgirlintheworld.I'vegoteversomanyfaults,andIwantyoutoknowthemall,andhelpmecurethem,asyouhaveyourown.Waitinghasnotdo