She and the children explored London, seeing all its sights, which Phebe, in her rustic curiosity, wished to see.

From west to east, from north to south, they became acquainted with the great capital as few children, rich or poor, have a chance of doing.

They sought out all its public buildings, every museum and picture gallery, the birthplaces of its famous men, the places where they died, and their tombs if they were within London.
Westminster Abbey was as familiar to them as their own home.

It seemed as if Phebe was compensating herself for her lonely girlhood on the barren and solitary uplands.

Yet it was not simply sight-seeing, but the outcome of an intelligent and genuine curiosity, which was only satisfied by understanding all she could about the things and places she saw.
To the children, as well as to Madame, she often talked of Roland Sefton.