she rejected your offer, at all events, on the plea of your want of fortune?”

“Yes,” said I, mechanically, again.

“Then, that is all we’ve got to deal with, my boy,”—she said.—“Mrs Clyde is quite right, too, you know, Frank. You have got no profession, or any regular occupation. Let us see if we cannot mend matters. In the first place, are you willing to work? Would you like some certain employment on which you can depend?”—And she looked at me kindly but searchingly over her spectacles.

“Would a duck swim?” said I, using an expressive Hibernicism.

“Well, what sort of employment would you like?” she asked.

“Anything,” I replied.

“Come, that’s good!” she said.—“And what can you do?”

“Everything,” I said.

She laughed good-humouredly.—“You’ve a pretty good opinion of yourself at any rate, Master Frank, if that’s any recommendation:—you will never fail through want of impudence. But, I’ll speak to the vicar about this. I think he could get you a nomination for a Government office.”

“What, a clerkship?”—I said, ruefully, having hitherto affected to despise all the race of her Majesty’s quill drivers, from Horner downwards.

“Yes, sir,”—she said,—“‘a clerkship;’ and a very good thing, too! You need not turn up your nose at it, Master Frank; I can see you, although I do wear glasses! Grander men than you think yourself, sir, have not despised such an opening! Here is the vicar,”—she added, as her brother walked into the room.—“How lucky! we can ask him now.”

The vicar overheard her remark.

“Hullo, Frank!” said he; “what is it, that Sally and you are conspiring together? Can I do anything for you, my boy?”—he continued, in his nice kind way,—“if so, only ask me; and if it is in my power, you know that I will do it.”

“He wishes to get into a Government office; don’t you think you could help him?” said Miss Pimpernell.

“You want to be in harness, my boy, eh?”—said the vicar, turning to me.—“That’s right, Frank. Literature will come on, in due course, all in good time. There’s nothing like having regular work to do, however trifling. It not only gives you a daily object in life, but also steadies your mind, causing you better to 

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