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constitutions good。〃
〃Does that mean amuse us？〃 inquired Polly。 〃What long words you
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do use； don't you？〃
Apologetic for having wandered out of his depth； he replied：
〃That means amuse us。 That is exactly what it means。 There are
many other wonders besides the ponies； and we shall see them all。 Ladies
and gentlemen in spangled dresses； and elephants and lions and tigers。〃
Polly became observant of the teapot； with a curled…up nose indicating
some uneasiness of mind。
〃They never get out； of course；〃 she remarked as a mere truism。
〃The elephants and lions and tigers？ Oh； dear no！〃
〃Oh； dear no！〃 said Polly。 〃And of course nobody's afraid of the
ponies shooting anybody。〃
〃Not the least in the world。〃
〃No； no； not the least in the world；〃 said Polly。
〃I was also thinking；〃 proceeded Barbox； 〃that if we were to look in at
the toy…shop； to choose a doll〃
〃Not dressed！〃 cried Polly with a clap of her hands。 〃No； no； NO； not
dressed！〃
〃Full…dressed。 Together with a house； and all things necessary for
housekeeping〃
Polly gave a little scream； and seemed in danger of falling into a
swoon of bliss。
〃What a darling you are！〃 she languidly exclaimed； leaning back in her
chair。 〃Come and be hugged； or I must come and hug you。〃
This resplendent programme was carried into execution with the
utmost rigour of the law。 It being essential to make the purchase of the
doll its first featureor that lady would have lost the poniesthe toy…shop
expedition took precedence。 Polly in the magic warehouse； with a doll as
large as herself under each arm； and a neat assortment of some twenty
more on view upon the counter； did indeed present a spectacle of
indecision not quite compatible with unalloyed happiness； but the light
cloud passed。 The lovely specimen oftenest chosen； oftenest rejected；
and finally abided by； was of Circassian descent； possessing as much
boldness of beauty as was reconcilable with extreme feebleness of mouth；
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and combining a sky…blue silk pelisse with rose…coloured satin trousers；
and a black velvet hat： which this fair stranger to our northern shores
would seem to have founded on the portraits of the late Duchess of Kent。
The name this distinguished foreigner brought with her from beneath the
glowing skies of a sunny clime was （on Polly's authority） Miss Melluka；
and the costly nature of her outfit as a housekeeper； from the Barbox
coffers； may be inferred from the two facts that her silver tea…spoons were
as large as her kitchen poker； and that the proportions of her watch
exceeded those of her frying…pan。 Miss Melluka was graciously pleased
to express her entire approbation of the Circus； and so was Polly； for the
ponies were speckled； and brought down nobody when they fired； and the
savagery of the wild beasts appeared to be mere smokewhich article； in
fact； they did produce in large quantities from their insides。 The Barbox
absorption in the general subject throughout the realisation of these
delights was again a sight to see； nor was it less worthy to behold at dinner；
when he drank to Miss Melluka； tied stiff in a chair opposite to Polly （the
fair Circassian possessing an unbendable spine）； and even induced the
waiter to assist in carrying out with due decorum the prevailing glorious
idea。 To wind up； there came the agreeable fever of getting Miss
Melluka and all her wardrobe and rich possessions into a fly with Polly； to
be taken home。 But； by that time； Polly had become unable to look upon
such accumulated joys with waking eyes； and had withdrawn her
consciousness into the wonderful Paradise of a child's sleep。 〃Sleep； Polly；
sleep；〃 said Barbox Brothers； as her head dropped on his shoulder； 〃you
shall not fall out of this bed easily； at any rate！〃
What rustling piece of paper he took from his pocket； and carefully
folded into the bosom of Polly's frock； shall not be mentioned。 He said
nothing about it； and nothing shall be said about it。 They drove to a
modest suburb of the great ingenious town； and stopped at the fore…court
of a small house。 〃Do not wake the child；〃 said Barbox Brothers softly to
the driver； 〃I will carry her in as she is。〃
Greeting the light at the opened door which was held by Polly's mother；
Polly's bearer passed on with mother and child in to a ground…floor room。
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There； stretched on a sofa； lay a sick man； sorely wasted； who covered his
eyes with his emaciated hand。
〃Tresham；〃 said Barbox in a kindly voice； 〃I have brought you back
your Polly； fast asleep。 Give me your hand； and tell me you are better。〃
The sick man reached forth his right hand； and bowed his head over
the hand into which it was taken； and kissed it。 〃Thank you； thank you！
I may say that I am well and happy。〃
〃That's brave；〃 said Barbox。 〃Tresham； I have a fancyCan you
make room for me beside you here？〃
He sat down on the sofa as he said the words； cherishing the plump
peachey cheek that lay uppermost on his shoulder。
〃I have a fancy； Tresham （I am getting quite an old fellow now； you
know； and old fellows may take fancies into their heads sometimes）； to
give up Polly； having found her； to no one but you。 Will you take her
from me？〃
As the father held out his arms for the child； each of the two men
looked steadily at the other。
〃She is very dear to you； Tresham？〃
〃Unutterably dear。〃
〃God bless her！ It is not much； Polly；〃 he continued； turning his eyes
upon her peaceful face as he apostrophized her； 〃it is not much； Polly； for a
blind and sinful man to invoke a blessing on something so far better than
himself as a little child is； but it would be muchmuch upon his cruel head；
and much upon his guilty soulif he could be so wicked as to invoke a
curse。 He had better have a millstone round his neck； and be cast into the
deepest sea。 Live and thrive； my pretty baby！〃 Here he kissed her。
〃Live and prosper； and become in time the mother of other little children；
like the Angels who behold The Father's face！〃
He kissed her again； gave her up gently to both her parents； and went
out。
But he went not to Wales。 No； he never went to Wales。 He went
straightway for another stroll about the town； and he looked in upon the
people at their work； and at their play； here； there； every… there； and where
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not。 For he was Barbox Brothers and Co。 now； and had taken thousands
of partners into the solitary firm。
He had at length got back to his hotel room； and was standing before
his fire refreshing himself with a glass of hot drink which he had stood
upon the chimney…piece； when he heard the town clocks striking； and；
referring to his watch； found the evening to have so slipped away； that
they were striking twelve。 As he put up his watch again； his eyes met
those of his reflection in the chimney… glass。
〃Why； it's your birthday already；〃 he said； smiling。 〃You are looking
very well。 I wish you many happy returns of the day。〃
He had never before bestowed that wish upon himself。 〃By Jupiter！〃
he discovered； 〃it alters the whole case of running away from one's
birthday！ It's a thing to explain to Phoebe。 Besides； here is quite a long
story to tell her； that has sprung out of the road with no story。 I'll go back；
instead of going on。 I'll go back by my friend Lamps's Up X presently。〃
He went bac