Vinnie and Mandy could not believe their eyes. They followed Charlotte through the factory. Every room was filled with factory workers: men, women, and children.
"Florence, why are children working in the factory?" asked Mandy.
Florence’s face was serious. "For their families, Miss Mandy," she said. "People want British products, so our factories must stay busy. That means everyone, including poor children, must work."
It didn’t seem fair to Mandy, but she kept quiet. Loud noises came from a nearby room. They went in and saw huge machines with big metal rollers moving back and forth.
"They look like mechanical weaving machines!" Mandy cried, but no one heard her. The sound was so loud that she had to put her fingers in her ears.
"Miss Charlotte!" yelled a man carrying a stack of paper under one arm.
"Mr. Geoffrey! I want to see my father," Charlotte yelled over the noise. The man turned and led them out of the noisy room.
"He is very busy, Miss Charlotte," said Mr. Geoffrey. "He can’t see you now."
Charlotte looked very sad. "I want him to meet Vinnie and Mandy."
Mr. Geoffrey shook his head.
"Please," pleaded Charlotte.
"I’m sorry, no," said Mr. Geoffrey.
"What are you making here?" Vinnie asked.
"This is a textile factory. We weave cloth and make clothes," replied Mr. Geoffrey.
"Do all the factories here make clothes?" asked Mandy.
"No, across the street, they make parts for the railroad," he said.
"Why are there so many factories?" Mandy wanted to know.
Mr. Geoffrey laughed. "The world is changing. Industry is the future! If you need something, England can make it."
Since Charlotte was not allowed to see her father, she wanted to leave. So they left the factory and found the cab driver waiting. Suddenly, church bells rang. Vinnie turned to see a large bell tower in the distance.
"That is St. Katherine’s, an old church that escaped the Great Fire in 1666," Florence said proudly. "The fire destroyed over 87 churches in London, but not St. Katherine’s!"
"Let’s go. It’s teatime!" demanded Charlotte. She turned to Vinnie and Mandy. "Would you like to come to my home for tea?"
"We’d love to," they replied.
They got into the carriage and rode toward Charlotte’s house. As they passed through the streets, the city changed again.
"How clean and pretty the streets are," Mandy thought.
The houses here were bigger and nicer too. Charlotte’s house was on a square with several other homes. A pretty garden was in the middle of the square. Little children were playing outside.
"What a difference from the other side of London," Mandy said to herself.