at that time were scarcely built upon.

One evening when Quintin called, as usual, to take his enamorata for
a walk, she said she would prefer to stay at home, as she was quite
fatigued with the day's work. Nothing disconcerted, her lover
remained with her in the house, and they amused themselves with a
pack of cards and a chessboard. The following evening, however,
Miss Ryland was again indisposed, and, on questioning her closely,
Quintin drew forth the avowal that she _had not sat down for a
quarter of an hour_ during the whole day! It seems it was the busy
season at M----'s, and, besides being engaged incessantly in
serving customers, Miss Ryland was obliged to shorten her dinner hour,
and to hurry back to meet the increased demand.

Quintin was quite shocked at this discovery. Although well aware of
the brutal treatment of shopkeepers' assistants, he had never been
an interested party, and so had the matter placed before him _in all
its horrors_ for the first time. He resolved that, come what might,
he would emancipate his intended wife from a life of such slavery,
and so, having carefully arranged his business and purchased a neat
little cottage in Cadieux street, he urged Miss Ryland to consent to
marry him without delay, and so avoid her life of thraldom. She
agreed to marry him during the ensuing month, pleading with feminine
weakness that it would take at least that time to get her trousseau
ready, and the day was finally arranged to their mutual satisfaction.

The excitement of preparation before marriage, and the change of
scene during her wedding-tour, wrought such an effect on the woman
that Mr. Quintin became convinced that his wife's health was
thoroughly restored, and be labored assiduously at his business,