Mrs.H.says he never knows when he is writing a story how the characters will turn out; he waits for _them_ to influence _him_.
"I asked her if Zenobia was intended for Margaret Fuller, and she said, 'No;' but Mr.Hawthorne admitted that Margaret Fuller seemed to be around him when he was writing it.
"London, August.

We went out for our first walk as soon as breakfast was over, and we walked on Regent street for hours, looking in at the shop windows.

The first view of the street was beautiful, for it was a misty morning, and we saw its length fade away as if it had no end.

I like it that in our first walk we came upon a crowd standing around 'Punch.' It is a ridiculous affair, but as it is as much a 'peculiar institution' as is Southern slavery, I stopped and listened, and after we came into the house Miss S.threw out some pence for them.

We rested after the shop windows of Regent street, took dinner, and went out again, this time to Piccadilly.
"The servility of the shopkeepers is really a little offensive.