"Let us go to the Loft," they said.

So they all crossed the yard together. Imogen picked her way daintily
in the white satin slippers, but when she saw the spiked post, she
gave a scream.

"Oh, not up there, darling, not up there!". she cried; "never, never!"

"Oh, do try! It's just as easy as can be," pleaded Katy, going up and
down half a dozen times in succession to show how easy it was. But
Imogen wouldn't be persuaded.

"Do not ask me," she said affectedly; "my nerves would never stand such
a thing! And besides--my dress!"

"What made you wear it?" said Philly, who was a plain-spoken child, and
given to questions. While John whispered to Dorry, "That's a real stupid
girl. Let's go off somewhere and play by ourselves."

So, one by one, the small fry crept away, leaving Katy and Clover to
entertain the visitor by themselves. They tried dolls, but Imogen did
not care for dolls. Then they proposed to sit down in the shade, and cap
verses, a game they all liked. But Imogen said that though she adored
poetry, she never could remember any. So it ended in their going to the
orchard, where Imogen ate a great many plums and early apples, and
really seemed to enjoy herself. But when she could eat no more, a
dreadful dulness fell over the party. At last Imogen said:

"Don't you ever sit in the drawing-room?"