However, Mrs. James brought me down another shirt, which I changed
in the drawing-room. I put a piece of court-plaster on my chin,
and Sarah very neatly sewed up the tear at the knee. At nine
o'clock Carrie swept into the room, looking like a queen. Never
have I seen her look so lovely, or so distinguished. She was
wearing a satin dress of sky-blue--my favourite colour--and a piece
of lace, which Mrs. James lent her, round the shoulders, to give a
finish. I thought perhaps the dress was a little too long behind,
and decidedly too short in front, but Mrs. James said it was a la
mode. Mrs. James was most kind, and lent Carrie a fan of ivory
with red feathers, the value of which, she said, was priceless, as
the feathers belonged to the Kachu eagle--a bird now extinct. I
preferred the little white fan which Carrie bought for three-and-
six at Shoolbred's, but both ladies sat on me at once.

We arrived at the Mansion House too early, which was rather
fortunate, for I had an opportunity of speaking to his lordship,
who graciously condescended to talk with me some minutes; but I
must say I was disappointed to find he did not even know Mr.
Perkupp, our principal.

I felt as if we had been invited to the Mansion House by one who
did not know the Lord Mayor himself. Crowds arrived, and I shall
never forget the grand sight. My humble pen can never describe it.
I was a little annoyed with Carrie, who kept saying: "Isn't it a
pity we don't know anybody?"

Once she quite lost her head. I saw someone who looked like
Franching, from Peckham, and was moving towards him when she seized
me by the coat-tails, and said quite loudly: "Don't leave me,"