But no such fortune befell her, and still no letter came.
At home she suffered increasing discomfort.

For one thing she had to seek her meals in the nearest coffee-shop instead of going down into Mrs.Bubb's kitchen and gossiping as she ate at the family deal table, amid the dirt and disorder which custom had made pleasant.

When in the house she locked herself in her bedroom, reading the kind of print that interested her, or lying in sullen idleness on the bed.

Numerous as were her acquaintances elsewhere, they did not compensate her for the loss of domestic habit, As the week drew on she bethought herself that she must look for new lodgings.

In giving notice to Mrs.Bubb she had not believed for a moment that it would come to this she felt, sure that her old friend would make up the quarrel and persuade her to stay.
Nothing of the kind; for once she was taken most literally at her word.
There were moments when Polly felt disposed to cry.
It vexed her much more than she would have thought to miss the jocose greetings of her neigh hour Mr.Gammon.As usual he sang in his bedroom of a morning, as usual be shouted orders and questions to Moggie, but for her he had never a word.