Polly has a new job teaching English at boys’ public school where she is the stuff of fantasy and furtive rummaging in trouser pockets. Mostly unbeknown to her. The decibel level at Frognal Boys is far lower than at Belsize Girls School and the pupils are courteous, attentive and diligent about doing homework and handing it in on time. She misses Megan but as her friend and former colleague is still very much ensconced with Dominic, she sees her many nights a week.

The brothers still share studio space but Max moved in with Polly and Megan moved in with Dominic, having rented her Kilburn flat to a girl called Pip McCabe.

Max is still happy being a freelance draughtsman but is taking on a fair amount of freelance work doing jacket design for two publishing houses in London. His relationship with Polly goes from strength to strength but he’s never asked her to marry him again. He has the example of his friends Chloe and William to follow. He and Polly are spending the Millennium with them, Dominic and Megan, down in Cornwall.

Lorna, Polly’s buddy from Vermont came to London this summer, her bags laden with maple syrup and good tidings from all at Hubbardton’s Academy. She adored Max. “What were you thinking,” she asked Polly, “what were you thinking?” Polly and Max are thinking of visiting Kate at Hubbardton’s next Fall.

Chip is very busy. What with honing his physique, having meaningless relationships and fending off lusty young students, he rarely has time to think back over his days in Vermont. He remembers Polly, though. He couldn’t ever forget her.