"Won't that be a story, doctor?" said I, as I went out of the door. I
heard them both laugh, but I did not hear what they said.




CHAPTER TWELVE

I prefer a Suit to Old Nanny, and procure a new Suit of
Clothes--The advantage of being well dressed: you may walk out with
the Ladies


The reader must not give me too much credit when I tell him that, ever
since I had been under the tuition of Peter Anderson, I had quite a
craving to go to church. Although what I had gained from his precepts
and explanations had increased my desire, still I must acknowledge that
the strongest reason for my being so anxious was that my mother would
not take me, and did take Virginia. Further, my curiosity was excited by
my absolute ignorance of what the church service consisted; I had heard
the bells toll, and, as I sauntered by, would stop and listen to the
organ and the singing. I would sometimes wait, and see the people coming
out; and then I could not help comparing my ragged dress with their
clean and gay attire.

This wish continually worried me; but the more I reflected, the more
impossible it appeared to be that I should be able to gratify it. How
could I possibly go to church in my tattered and dirty clothes--and what
chance had I of getting others? I certainly gained, at an average,
eighteenpence per week, but I saved nothing. Would my mother give me