After church they strolled through the park, as is the Sunday custom in London. "Church Parade" it is called; where everybody meets everybody else. They promenade up and down the walks or sit in the "penny" chairs. Friends gossip together, and make engagements for the coming week.
It might be called an out-of-door reception. Mrs. Stamford sat talking with some friends while Adelaide and Edith watched the young people, who were out in full force with their parents or nurse-maids. Everybody was in their prettiest clothes, and looked bright and gay.
"Mamma will have visitors this afternoon, so let us take a book into the gardens and read," said Adelaide.
Every family who has a house in one of these garden squares pays something toward keeping up the garden, which is kept locked, and only those who live in the square have keys and can enter. There are seats and shady walks and a grass plot for tennis and croquet; so it is quite like having your own garden.
This was Edith's last day in London. Mrs. Howard was coming the next day, and Edith was to return with her.
"You must come again; you have only seen a little bit of London," said Mrs. Stamford. "There is much more to show you yet."
"Remember you are coming up for Lord Mayor's day," were Adelaide's last words, and with kisses Edith parted from her aunt and cousin with reluctance.