barber-shop (Avrillia had not insisted upon his bringing his shaving
things today, but he went to a barber-shop every two hours) she would
not cross the street, but stayed on the sidewalk. Pirlaps changed his
trousers at the barber-shop, too, whenever it was necessary; but today
there were so much to do and see that he did not sit on his step as
much as usual, and so did not need as many.

For they had a good deal of shopping to do, besides showing Sara the
sights. In the first place, Avrillia had to go to the stationery store
and get a new supply of swan's-quill pens. "That's one store I always
know where to find," she said. "The others change about so that I
always have to ask somebody." Then, Pirlaps needed some new trousers
(two or three pairs had worn out and he only had forty-four or five
left) and some shaving soap. "And besides," said Avrillia, smiling at
Sara mysteriously, "we want to get some presents."

"And you'll have to make your usual visits of charity. Oh, I know you,
Avrillia," said Pirlaps. "If we don't hurry we won't catch the evening
boat."

So they went first to the stationery store (which, just as Avrillia
had said, was in the usual place), and then to a bazaar where they
disposed of their household buying. While Sara was feasting her eyes
on the strange, delicious-looking fruits, the old candlesticks, and
the bolts and lengths of rich-looking cloth with stories woven into it,
she heard Avrillia say, "Now a set of self-buttoning buttons, please."

The jolly little old leather-colored man who kept the bazaar winked at
Sara as he brought out the buttons for Avrillia's inspection. They
looked very much like ordinary buttons, except that they were, of