The night after their return to London they were dining for the second time with the cousins of whom Mrs. Ashe had spoken to Dr. Carr; and as it happened Katy sat next to a quaint elderly American, who had lived for twenty years in London and knew it much better than most Londoners do. This gentleman, Mr. Allen Beach, had a hobby for antiquities, old books especially, and passed half his time at the British Museum, and the other half in sales rooms and the old shops in Wardour Street. Katy was lamenting over the bad weather which stood in the way of their plans. "It is so vexatious," she said. "Mrs. Ashe meant to go to York and Lincoln and all the cathedral towns and to Scotland; and we have had to give it all up because of the rains. We shall go away having seen hardly anything." "You can see London." "We have,--that is, we have seen the things that everybody sees." "But there are so many things that people in general do not see. How much longer are you to stay, Miss Carr?" "A week, I believe." "Why don't you make out a list of old buildings which are connected with famous people in history, and visit them in turn? I did that the second year after I came. I gave up three months to it, and it was most interesting. I unearthed all manner of curious stories and traditions." "Or," cried Katy, struck with a sudden bright thought, "why mightn't I put into the list some of the places I know about in books,--novels as well as history,--and the places where the people who wrote the books lived?" "You might do that, and it wouldn't be a bad idea, either," said Mr. Beach, pleased with her enthusiasm. "I will get a pencil after dinner and help you with your list if you will allow me."