Imagine! The other day when your aunt was out, I took Polly
with me. She said she would give anything on earth to go. So
we went. We went into some awful streets, and had some
oysters at a stall, and came back carrying no end of books;
and just as we got in at the door there were your aunt and
Lady Chelmsfield coming out. What a rage your aunt was in! I
tried to take all the blame, but she shut Polly up for a
fortnight. It's a beastly shame, but Polly says the
expedition was worth it; her spirit is splendid. I never
wrote such a long letter in my life before, but I am in the
blues, and have no one to talk to. I wish my poor governor
had lived. I wish I were in the country. I wish your aunt
was a moth. Wouldn't I pin her to a cork! Mind you work up
old Mother Hubbard to a sumptuous provision of grub for next
half, and don't forget the other grubs. Would that I could
dig with thee for them. _Vale_!
"Thine ever,
"LIONEL DAMER."
Of course this ended in Leo's being invited to Dacrefield. He came,
and, wonderful to relate, we got Polly too. My father invited her and
my aunt to visit us, and they came.
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