To the inexpressible delight of all the children, Mrs. Durnford immediately assented to the proposal of her husband, and it was agreed, that as the young people had behaved themselves lately much to the satisfaction of their parents, they should all of them enjoy the pleasure of a "visit to the Bazaar," except the baby in arms, and the youngest boy.
Early the next morning Mr. and Mrs. Durnford, with Maria and Emily, who were twins, and just turned of twelve years of age, and Caroline, a sweet little girl about seven, accompanied by Theodore, proceeded with light hearts and buoyant spirits to town, which was only two miles from the residence of their father, a gentleman of large independent fortune. They had frequently visited the metropolis, had been once to a play, and had seen several other places worthy of their inspection, but they all felt their curiosity strongly excited to view the Bazaar, as well as to behold once more Susan Boscawen, who was a daughter of a deceased tradesman, long a resident in this village, and for whom they all entertained a sincere regard.
On arriving at the place of their destination, the young people were surprized to see the square filled with elegant equipages, some of them belonging to our first nobility. "I believe, my dears," said Mr. Durnford, "that this is the first time any of you have seen Soho-square."
"Yes, papa, it is," cried Theodore, "pray whose statue is that which I see placed in the centre of that large area, and what are those figures at the feet of the statue."
"It is, as you may observe, a pedestrian statue of King Charles the Second," replied Mr. Durnford, "and those wretched mutilated figures are emblematical of the rivers, Thames, Trent, Severn, and the Humber. The Square was formerly called King-square, and I believe some efforts have been made to have that name revived. It has been greatly altered since the original disposition of the ground: then a fountain of four streams fell into a basin in the centre; where now stands the worn out statue of King Charles. It was once also called Monmouth-square, the Duke of Monmouth then residing in the second house; and tradition says, that on the death of the Duke, his admirers changed it to Soho, being the word of the day at the battle of Sedgemoor. The name of the unfortunate Duke is, however, still preserved in that of Monmouth-street, long celebrated for old shops, old clothes, and shop cellars. That house, my dears, is celebrated as being the residence of the venerable and worthy Sir Joseph Banks, whose whole life has been devoted to science, and the diffusion of every branch of useful knowledge."
THE JEWELLER.
Jeweller
They now walked towards the Bazaar, and in a few minutes entered the first room, which is sixty-two feet long, and thirty-six broad. The walls were hung with red cloth, and at the ends were large mirrors which reflected the surrounding objects.
"Oh, dear mamma!" exclaimed Emily, "let us stop a moment to look at these beautiful ornaments, what a pretty gold cross and pearl chain; I should like to buy it for baby, only that it would come to more than all my pocket money."