d fetched them some toys and books, and before
she went out charged Martha, their little attendant, to do her best
to amuse them; but Phyllis was not in a mood to be amused.

"Martha," she said, "it's horrid in here! Let's go in the garden."

"Lor, miss! there isn't such a thing."

Then Phyllis went and looked out of the window, but the air was so
thick that she could see nothing but a few chimney-pots, and people
moving like shadows in the street below.

Phyllis soon grew tired of the window. She wondered very much what
Donald and her sisters were seeing, and how far off London was.

"Martha," she said presently, "we must go for a walk; of course we
must. We always do at home."

"Oh, dear dear!" cried Martha, with something like a sniff, "I
wouldn't do it for worlds. I'd lose my way for certain, and be run
over in this dirty, foggy place."

"Why, you've only got to be careful of the crossings, and ask a
policeman the way," Phyllis replied, crossly; "and it is so dull
here."

The morning dragged on. At last Martha went downstairs to the kitchen
to see about something, but when it was seen about she could not
refrain from having a gossip with the landlady's servant, never
dreaming that the children could get into mischief; but they did.

Directly she had gone, Phyllis thought she would take just a peep out
of doors. The enchanted city, with its streets of gold and untold
marvels, could not be far off. She would try to get just one glimpse.

In a moment she had fetched their hats and jackets, popped them on,
and was leading her little sister downstairs. It happened that the
outer door was open, so they slipped into the street unobserved.

Phyllis ran quickly along, and soon came to a turning. Just at this
moment a gleam of sunshine shone out, dispersing the murky haze.

"Ah!" thought Phyllis, "this is the right way. I know we shall see
some of the beautiful sights presently."

So she dragged Effie along as quickly as she could. Sometimes people
bumped against them, and frightened them very much; but Phyllis soon
saw they meant no harm, so she kept on.

Presently they turned into a broad street, where there were, oh! such
numbers of people, walking so fast, and the road was full of
carriages and horses and waggons, and the noise was just deafening.

Phyllis pulled Effie into a doorway, and thought she would wait till
the people had passed, but she waited and waited, and still they kept
on coming backwards