Papa said, “What makes you bridle and simper so, Emily?” Then I told him all that was in my mind.  Papa asked if I did not think him as pretty as I did mamma.  I could not say much for his beauty, but I told him he was a much finer gentleman than my uncle, and that I liked him the first moment I saw him, because he looked so good-natured.  He said, “Well then, he must be content with that half-praise; but he had always thought himself very handsome.”  “O dear!” said I, and fell a-laughing, till I spilt my tea, and mamma called me Little aukward girl.

The next morning my papa was going to the Bank to receive some money, and he took mamma and me with him, that I might have a ride through London streets.  Everyone that has been in London must have seen the Bank, and therefore you may imagine what an effect the fine large rooms, and the bustle and confusion of people had on me; who was grown such a little wondering rustic, that the crowded streets and the fine shops, alone kept me in continual admiration.

As we were returning home down Cheapside, papa said, “Emily shall take home some little books.—­Shall we order the coachman to the corner of St. Paul’s church-yard, or shall we go to the Juvenile Library in Skinner-street?” Mamma said she would go to Skinner-street, for she wanted to look at the new buildings there.  Papa bought me seven new books, and the lady in the shop persuaded him to take more, but mamma said that was quite enough at present.

We went home by Ludgate-hill, because mamma wanted to buy something there; and while she went into a shop, papa heard me read in one of my new books, and he said he was glad to find I could read so well; for I had forgot to tell him my aunt used to hear me read every day.

My papa stopped the coach opposite to St. Dunstan’s church, that I might see the great iron figures strike upon the bell, to give notice that it was a quarter of an hour past two.  We waited some time that I might see this sight, but just at the moment they were striking, I happened to be looking at a toy-shop that was on the other side of the way, and unluckily missed it.  Papa said, “Never mind:  we will go into the toyshop, and I dare say we shall find something that will console you for your disappointment.”  “Do,” said mamma, “for I knew miss Pearson, that keeps this shop, at Weymouth, when I was a little girl, not much older than Emily.  Take notice of her;—­she is a very intelligent old lady.”  Mamma made herself known to miss Pearson, and shewed me to her, but I did not much mind what they said; no more did papa;—­for we were busy among the toys.

A large wax doll, a baby-house completely furnished, and several other beautiful toys, were bought for me.  I sat and looked at them with an amazing deal of pleasure as we rode home—­they quite filled up one side of the coach.

The joy I discovered at possessing things I could call my own, and the frequent repetition of the words, My own, my own, gave my mamma some uneasiness.  She justly feared that the cold treatment I had experienced at my uncle’s had made me selfish, and therefore she invited a little girl to spend a few days with me, to see, as she has since told me, if I should not be liable to fall into the same error from which I had suffered so much at my uncle’s.