Polly and I parted with much grief on both sides.

Aunt Maria took her back to her lessons, and I was left to my loneliness.
I felt Polly's loss very much, especially as my father happened to be a good deal engaged just then, and Nurse Bundle busy superintending some new arrangements in our nursery premises.

I think she missed Polly herself; we had not been so quiet for some weeks.

We almost felt it dull.
"Of course a country place _is_ very quiet," Mrs.Bundle said one evening to the housekeeper, with whom we were having tea for a change.
"Anybody feels it that has ever lived in a town, where people is always dropping in." "What's 'dropping in,' Nurse ?" I asked.
"Well, my dear, just calling in at anybody's house, and sitting down in a friendly way, to exchange the weather and pass time like." "That must be very nice," I said.
"Like as if we was in Oakford," Mrs.Bundle continued, "and I could drop in, as it might be this afternoon, and take a seat in my sister's and ask after their good healths." "I wish we could," said I.
The idea fermented in my brain, as ideas were wont to do, in the large share of solitary hours that fell to my lot.

The result of it was the following adventure..