There Percy's wild mirth and eloquent descriptions partly banished my ill-humour, but as I neared London all my fancied evils returned to me again.

When we first arrived, which was in September, this huge city was, comparatively speaking, a desert; for all the fashionables were out ruralizing.

Mamma was not, I believe, sorry for this, for she wished us to have full six or seven months' hard study before she entered at all into society.

Ellen and I, of course, will have more, but Caroline is to make her regular _entree_ in March or April, and therefore must be drilled accordingly.

First-rate masters were instantly engaged; indeed, papa had written to many before we arrived, that no time should be lost, and as almost all their pupils were from London, we had the choice of hours, which was very agreeable, although at that time I did not feel inclined to think anything agreeable, being accustomed to no instruction save that bestowed by Miss Harcourt and mamma; professors of music, drawing, French, Italian, German (which Caroline is seized with a violent fancy to acquire, and which I deign to learn, because I should like to read Klopstock in the original), and even what I term a lady professor of embroidery, which Caroline has succeeded in tormenting mamma to let her have--_entre nous_, it is only because she has taught Annie Grahame; all these, my dear Mary, presented a most formidable array, and for the first month I did not choose to profit by their instructions in the least.