It was called the Bazaar. It would be a very long business to say what
was in it. But amongst other things there were foreign cage-birds,
musical-boxes, and camp-stools, and baskets, and polished pebbles, and
paper patterns, and a little ladies' and children's millinery, and a
good deal of mock jewellery, and some very bad soaps and scents, and
some very good children's toys.
It was Madam Liberality's godmother who first took her to the bazaar.
A titled lady of her acquaintance had heard that wire flower-baskets
of a certain shape could be bought in the bazaar cheaper (by
two-pence-halfpenny each) than in London; and after writing to her
friend to ascertain the truth of the statement, she wrote again to
authorize her to purchase three on her behalf. So Madam Liberality's
godmother ordered out the blue carriage and pair, and drove with her
little cousin to the bazaar.
And as they came out, followed by a bearded man, bowing very low, and
carrying the wire baskets, Madam Liberality's godmother stopped near
the toy-stall to button her glove. And when she had buttoned it (which
took a long time, because her hands were stout, and Podmore generally
did it with a hook), she said to Madam Liberality, "Now, child, I want
to tell you that if you are very good whilst you are with me, and
Podmore gives me a good report of you, I will bring you here before
you go home, and buy you a present.
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