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though the project had materialised now to the extent of a draft
agreement with the place for his signature indicated in pencil.
One morning, just after Mr. Johnson had gone to the station, Mr. Polly
wheeled his bicycle out into the road, went up to his bedroom, packed
his long white nightdress, a comb, and a toothbrush in a manner that
was as offhand as he could make it, informed Mrs. Johnson, who was
manifestly curious, that he was "off for a day or two to clear his
head," and fled forthright into the road, and mounting turned his
wheel towards the tropics and the equator and the south coast of
England, and indeed more particularly to where the little village of
Fishbourne slumbers and sleeps.
When he returned four days later, he astonished Johnson beyond measure
by remarking so soon as the shop project was reopened:
"I've took a little contraption at Fishbourne, O' Man, that I fancy
suits me better."
He paused, and then added in a manner, if possible, even more offhand:
"
Oh! and I'm going to have a bit of a nuptial over at Stamton with one
of the Larkins cousins."
"Nuptial!" said Johnson.
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