g eyes. Richard had
purposely given his wife few details of his visits to Dandaloo; but
Mrs. Glendinning knew no such scruples, and cried her eyes out on
Polly's shoulder.

What a dreadful man the husband must be! "For she really is the dearest
little woman, Richard. And means so well with every one--I've never
heard her say a sharp or unkind word.--Well, not very clever, perhaps.
But everybody can't be clever, can they? And she's good--which is
better. The only thing she seems a teeny-weeny bit foolish about is her
boy. I'm afraid she'll never consent to part with him."--Polly said
this to prepare her husband, who was in correspondence on the subject
with Archdeacon Long and with John in Melbourne. Richard was putting
himself to a great deal of trouble, and would naturally be vexed if
nothing came of it.

Polly paid her first visit to Dandaloo with considerable trepidation.
For Mrs. Urquhart, who herself was happily married--although, it was
true, her merry, red-haired husband had the reputation of being a
LITTLE too fond of the ladies, and though he certainly did not make
such a paying concern of Yarangobilly as Mr. Glendinning of
Dandaloo--Mrs. Urquhart had whispered to Polly as they sat chatting on
the verandah: "Such a DREADFUL man, my dear! ... a perfect brute! Poor
little Agnes. It is wonderful how she keeps her spirits up."

Polly, however, was in honour bound to admit that to her the owner of
Dandaloo had appeared anything but the monster report made him out to
be. He was perfectly sober the day she was there, and did not touch
wine at luncheon; and afterwards he had been most kind, taking her with
him on a quiet little broad-backed mare to an outlying part of the
station, and giving her several hints how to improve her seat. He was
certainly very haggard-looking, and deeply wrinkled, and at table his
hand shook so that the water in his glass ran over. But all this only
made Polly feel sorry for him, and long to help him.

"My dear, you ARE favoured! I never knew James make such an offer
before," whispered Mrs. Glendinning, as she pinned her ample
riding-skirt round her friend's slim hips.

The one thing about him that disturbed Polly was his manner towards his
wife: he was savagely ironic with her, and trampled hobnailed on her
timid opinions. But then Agnes didn't know how to treat him, Polly soon
saw that: she was nervous and fluttery--evasive, too; and once during
lunch even told a deliberate fib. Sli