ises, yet there was still something left in that
same London air, a sort of mystery and wonder about it. There was
still something of untold fascination in the busy and crowded streets,
which brought a great sense of delight and exhilaration to the three
young adventurers.

Jasmine spoke about the stories which met her at every turn; she felt
almost melted to tears at the sight of the sadness in the eyes of some
women, and some little children. But again, beautiful ladies driving
past in carriages made of almost fairy lightness caused her to laugh
with pleasure.

Primrose was more gravely impressed by London than Jasmine. Her
emotions were not so keen as her younger sister's, her purpose was far
more steadfast; and even in the first few days when the girls gave
themselves up to seeing the wonderful sights of the great metropolis
she could never forget the real object for which they had come.

Daisy, when she had become reconciled to the smuts and disagreeables,
and the slights to which the Pink was exposed all day long in Penelope
Mansion, began to enjoy life in a serene but unqualified manner. Each
of the girls had her own particular tastes; and these they were by no
means slow to express to one another.

Primrose, who intended to study china painting--to make it, in short,
a profession--liked to stand opposite some large shop in Oxford
Street, and to study and try to carry away in her mind's eye the shape
and beauty of the many lovely things displayed in the windows.

Jasmine, who during the first few days had quite made up her mind not
to worry at all about the future, did not much care for these gazing
fits of Primrose's. She wanted to get into the parks. She exclaimed in
ecstasy over the horses, and those picture-galleries which were free
to the public quite enchanted her. Daisy frankly admitted that she
liked toy-shops, and of all toy-shops those which displayed rows of
dolls in their windows the best. Primrose had decided that the three
should have one week's holiday, and it was during this week that they
began to make a certain first acquaintance with London. "It is the
heart of the world," Jasmine was heard to say. "Primrose, it is what
we pictured it; in many ways it is even greater than what we pictured
it. Oh, don't your cheeks glow, and don't you feel that your eyes are
shining when you look down Oxford Street? Yes, it is lovely and grand,
and I think we ought to show poor dear Poppy some more of its