Polly Mooney Quotes

Polly was a slim girl of nineteen; she had light soft hair and a small full mouth. Her eyes, which were grey with a shade of green through them, had a habit of glancing upwards when she spoke with anyone, which made her look like a little perverse madonna.

At last she heard her mother calling. She started to her feet and ran to the banisters. “Polly! Polly!” “Yes, mamma?” “Come down, dear. Mr Doran wants to speak to you.” Then she remembered what she had been waiting for.

She waited on patiently, almost cheerfully, without alarm, her memories gradually giving place to hopes and visions of the future. Her hopes and visions were so intricate that she no longer saw the white pillows on which her gaze was fixed or remembered that she was waiting for anything.

For her only one reparation could make up for the loss of her daughter’s honour: marriage.

She was a little vulgar; sometimes she said “I seen” and “If I had’ve known.” But what would grammar matter if he really loved her?