One consequence of which was, that when they grew up, and were large young women with large noses, they were the most helpless creatures at a railway-station that I ever beheld.
Whilst Aunt Maria was with us, she "spoke seriously," as it is called, to my father about my education.

I think she was shocked to discover how thoroughly Polly and I had been "running wild" during Polly's visit.

Whether my father had given any rash assent to proposals for our studying together, which Aunt Maria may have made at her last visit, or not, I do not know.

Anyway, my aunt seemed to be shocked, and enlarged to my father on the waste of time involved in allowing me to run wild so long.

My father was apt to "take things easy," and I fancy he made some vague promises as to my education, which satisfied my aunt for the time.