"Farewell, child," said the old woman, "and God bless you!" I then moved along the bridge until I reached the Southwark side, and, still holding on my course, my mind again became quickly abstracted from all surrounding objects.
At length I found myself in a street or road, with terraces on either side, and seemingly of interminable length, leading, as it would appear, to the south-east.

I was walking at a great rate--there were likewise a great number of people, also walking at a great rate; also carts and carriages driving at a great rate; and all, men, carts, and carriages, going in the selfsame direction, namely, to the south-east.

I stopped for a moment and deliberated whether or not I should proceed.

What business had I in that direction?
I could not say that I had any particular business in that direction, but what could I do were I to turn back?
only walk about well-known streets; and, if I must walk, why not continue in the direction in which I was to see whither the road and its terraces led?
I was here in a _terra incognita_, and an unknown place had always some interest for me; moreover, I had a desire to know whither all this crowd was going, and for what purpose.

I thought they could not be going far, as crowds seldom go far, especially at such a rate; so I walked on more lustily than before, passing group after group of the crowd, and almost vieing in speed with some of the carriages, especially the hackney-coaches; and by dint of walking at this rate, the terraces and houses becoming somewhat less frequent as I advanced, I reached in about three quarters of an hour a kind of low dingy town, in the neighbourhood of the river; the streets were swarming with people, and I concluded, from the number of wild-beast shows, caravans, gingerbread stalls, and the like, that a fair was being held.