, Polly, to say that I love you? And if I love you, can
I like to see a young fellow like Mr. Newton hanging about after you?
He doesn't love you. He can't love you,--as I do. Your father brings
him here because he is a gentleman."

"I don't think anything of his being a gentleman."

"But think of me. Of course I was unhappy, wretched,--miserable. I
knew why he was there. You can understand, Polly, that when a man
really loves he must be the miserablest or the happiest of human
beings."

"I don't understand anything about it."

"I wish you would let me teach you."

"I don't want to learn, and I doubt whether you'd make a good master.
I really must go back now, Mr. Moggs. I came out because mother said
I'd better. I don't know that it could do any good if we were to walk
on to Edgeware." And so saying, Polly turned back.

He walked beside her half the way home in silence, thinking that if
he could only choose the proper words and the proper tone he might
yet prevail; but feeling that the proper words and the proper tone
were altogether out of his reach. On those favourite subjects, the
ballot, or the power of strikes, he could always find the proper
words and the proper tone when he rose upon his legs at the Cheshire
Cheese;--and yet, much as he loved the ballot, he loved Polly Neefit
infinitely more dearly. When at the Cheshire Cheese he was a man;
but now, walking with the girl of his heart, he felt himself to be a
bootmaker, and the smell of the leather depressed him. It was evident
that she would walk the whole way home in silence, if he would permit
it. The railway station was already again in sight, when he stopped
her on the pathway, and made one more attempt. "You believe me, when
I say that I love you?"

"I don't know, Mr. Moggs."

"Oh, Polly, you don't know!"

"But it doesn't signify,--not the least. I ain't bound to take a man
because he loves me."

"You won't take Mr. Newton;--will you?"

"I don't know. I won't say anything about it. Mr. Newton is nothing
to you." Then there was a pause. "If you think, Mr. Moggs, that you
can recommend yourself to a young woman by such tantrums as there
were going on last night, you are very much mistaken. That's not the
way to win me."

"I wish I knew which was the way."

"Mr. Newton never said a word."

"Your father told him to take you out a-walking before my very eyes!
Was I to bear that? Think of it, Polly. You mayn't care for me, and
I don't suppose