“I shall not need you this afternoon, Roger,” the merchant said; “and you can go out and view the sights of the city.  Avoid getting into any quarrels or broils, and especially observe the names writ up on the corner of the houses, in order that you may learn the streets and so be able to find your way about should I send you with messages or goods.”

Harry spent the afternoon as directed, and was mightily amused and entertained by the sights which he witnessed.  Especially was he interested in London Bridge, which, covered closely with houses, stretched across the river, and at the great fleet of vessels which lay moored to the wharves below.  Here Harry spent the greater portion of the afternoon, watching the numerous boats as they shot the bridge, and the barges receiving merchandise from the vessels.

At five o’clock the shop was shut, and at six supper was served in the same order as dinner had been.  At eight they retired to bed.

“Well, Master Roger,” said Jacob, when they were done, “and what is thy father?”

“He farms a piece of land of his own,” Harry said.  “Sometimes I live with him; but more often with my uncle, who is a trader in Bristol—­a man of some wealth, and much respected by the citizens.”

“Ah! it is there that thou hast learnt thy tricks of eating,” Jacob said.  “I wondered to see thee handle thy knife and fork so daintily, and in a manner which assuredly smacked of the city rather than of the farm.”

“My uncle,” Harry said, “is a particular man as to his habits, and as many leading citizens of the town often take their meals at his house, he was ever worrying me to behave, as he said, more like a Christian than a hog.  What a town is this London!  What heaps of people, and what wonderful sights!”

“Yes,” the apprentice said carelessly.  “But you have as yet seen nothing.  You should see the giant with eight heads, at the Guildhall.”

“A giant with eight heads?” Henry exclaimed wonderingly.  “Why, he have five more than the giant whom my mother told me of when I was little, that was killed by Jack, the Giant Killer.  I must go and sea him of a surety.’”

“You must mind,” the apprentice said; “for a boy is served up for him every morning for breakfast.”

“Now you are trying to fool me,” Harry said.  “My mother warned me that the boys of London were wickedly disposed, and given to mock at strangers.  But I tell thee, Master Jacob, that I have a heavy fist, and was considered a fighter in the village.  Therefore, mind how thou triest to fool me.  Mother always said I was not such a fool as I looked.”

“You may well be that,” Jacob said, “and yet a very big fool.  But at present I do not know whether your folly is more than skin deep, and methinks that the respectable trader, your uncle, has taught you more than how to eat like a Christian.”