blessed child's poor papa!' and that people were cruel to him, and would
never take into account his lovely temper, and that everybody was his
enemy, when he ought to be sitting with the highest in the land. I had
realized the extremity of my forlorn state on a Sunday that passed empty
of my father, which felt like his having gone for ever. My nursemaid
came in to assist in settling Mrs. Waddy's bonnet above the six crisp
curls, and while they were about it I sat quiet, plucking now and then at
the brown silk, partly to beg to go with it, partly in jealousy and love
at the thought of its seeing him from whom I was so awfully separated.
Mrs. Waddy took fresh kisses off my lips, assuring me that my father
would have them in twenty minutes, and I was to sit and count the time.
My nursemaid let her out. I pretended to be absorbed in counting, till I
saw Mrs. Waddy pass by the window. My heart gave a leap of pain. I
found the street-door open and no one in the passage, and I ran out,
thinking that Mrs. Waddy would be obliged to take me if she discovered me
by her side in the street.

I was by no means disconcerted at not seeing her immediately. Running
on from one street to another, I took the turnings with unhesitating
boldness, as if I had a destination in view. I must have been out near
an hour before I understood that Mrs. Waddy had eluded me; so I resolved
to enjoy the shop-windows with the luxurious freedom of one whose
speculations on those glorious things all up for show are no longer
distracted by the run of time and a nursemaid. Little more than a glance
was enough, now that I knew I could stay as long as I liked. If I
stopped at all, it was rather to exhibit the bravado of liberty than to
distinguish any particular shop with my preference: all were equally
beautiful; so were the carriages; so were the people. Ladies frequently
turned to look at me, perhaps because I had no covering on my head; but
they did not interest me in the least. I should have been willing to ask