Darling Polly! I've been simply dying to meet you. You had no trouble finding Tom at the station?

No, I recognised him immediately from your description of him.

You didn't tell him how I described him, did you?

Well, yes. Shouldn’t I have done? He didn't seem very pleased.

Poor Tom. I expect he's consoling himself in the kitchen with milk and cookies. He's an awful boy, my dear; and if you have anything to do with him, he'll torment you to death. Boys are all horrid, but he's the horridest one I ever saw, I suppose that's your travelling coat and hat?

No. These are my best things.

You’re best! Really?

Is something the matter with them?

No, no of course not. Only ….

I decorated the hat myself!

Did you? …. how ... how very enterprising of you

Tom said it was nice

Tom is a boy dear, you can’t believe anything he says. Anyway, I’ll make Mother take us both shopping tomorrow … er .. no, this very afternoon. How do you like your room?

This, … this is my room?

I tried to make it pretty for you

It’s …

Don’t you like it?

On the contrary, it’s quite the most splendid room I’ve ever seen!

Truly?

Truly. I never slept in a bed with curtains before, or had such a fine toilet table as this!

Then you’re in for a surprise when you see mine. I chose the wallpaper and curtains myself, in the palest pink imaginable. So fashionable.

But I love this shade of green and can’t think of anything finer.

I’m glad you like it, but don’t for mercy’s sake such things before the other girls!

Why not?

Oh, they laugh at everything the least bit odd, and that - er - isn’t pleasant

You mean “countryfied”, don’t you?

I - of course not. You look perfect, perfectly - er - healthy

Thank you, I’m sure I’ll get used to things in no time. You’ll see.

Oh, I’m so poorly, mamma says I needn’t go to school regularly while you’re here - only a few time a week, just to keep up my music and French. You can go too if you like; papa said so. Do, it’s such fun! and I’ll lend you my agate earrings.

I should be afraid to go to your school, if all the girls dress as finely as you do, and know as much.

Heavens, you needn’t mind that. I’ll take care of you and fix you up, so you won’t look odd.

Am I odd? I don’t feel odd.

Oh, you are a dear, and ever so much prettier than you were last summer, only you’ve been brought up differently from us; so your ways are not like ours, you see.

How different?

Well, you dress like a little girl, for one thing

I am a little girl; so why shouldn’t I?

You’re not a little girl, you’re my age. I and all my friends, consider ourselves young ladies now. The clothes we wear, the way we do our hair. Look. Isn’t it pretty?
(twirls showing off)

You’re quite right. You and I are very different.

Never mind, I’ll soon have you every bit as fashionable as I am.

That’s what I’m afraid of.