From A London Child Of The 1870s, by M.V. Hughes

Dym and Barnholt had gone one day for a long tramp--train to Barnet, thence to St. Albans, and back by Potters Bar.

From the outset everything went wrong. They missed the train and had a long wait to begin with. They left their parcel of sandwiches in the rack. The rain, which they laughed at when it began, increased to a steady downpour.

The tea at St. Albans, on which they had counted to revive them, was only just warm and very dear. Barnholt lost his last coin, a half-crown, through a hole in his pocket, and Dym had only just enough for their fares home from Potters Bar.

On the way they amused themselves with the fun they would get out of telling their misfortunes to the others, and as they neared the house they agreed that it only needed to find Arthur Collins in the study to crown the day.

The servant opened the door with the words, 'Mr. Collins is in the study, sir; he has been waiting for you for some time.'