. John expected to
find the reverend gentleman a hard nut to crack, their views on the
subject of a state aid to religion being diametrically opposed. Polly
thought a substantial donation to the chancel-fund might smooth things
over, while for John to display a personal interest in Mrs. Long's
charities would help still more. Then there were the Ococks. The old
man could be counted on, she believed; but John might have some
difficulty with Mr. Henry--and here she initiated her brother into the
domestic differences which had split up the Ocock family, and prevented
Richard from approaching the lawyer. John, who was in his most
democratic mood, was humorous at the expense of Henry, and declared the
latter should rather wish his father joy of coming to such a fine,
bouncing young wife in his old age. The best way of getting at Mr.
Henry, Polly considered, would be for Mrs Glendinning to give a
luncheon or a bushing-party, with the lawyer among the guests: "Then
you and I, John, could drive out and join them--either by chance or
invitation, as you think best." Polly was heart and soul in the affair.

But business over, she put several straight questions about the boy,
little Johnny--Polly still blamed herself for having meekly submitted
to the child's removal from her charge--and was not to be fobbed off
with evasions. The unfavourable verdict she managed to worm out of
John: "Incorrigible, my dear Polly--utterly incorrigible! His masters
report him idle, disobedient, a bad influence on the other scholars,"
she met staunchly with: "Perhaps it has something to do with the
school. Why not try another? Johnny had his good qualities; in many
ways was quite a lovable child."

For the first time Mahony saw his wife and her eldest brother together
and he could not but be struck by Polly's attitude. Greatly as she
admired and reverenced John, there was not a particle of obsequiousness
in her manner, nor any truckling to his point of view; and she plainly
felt nothing of the peculiar sense of discomfort that invariably
attacked him, in John's presence. Either she was not conscious of her
brother's grossly patronising air, or, aware of it, did not resent it,
John having always been so much her superior in age and position. Or
was it indeed the truth that John did not try to patronise Polly? That
his overbearing nature recognised in hers a certain springy resistance,
which was not to be crushed? In other words, that, in a Turnham,
T