but I cannot continue an interview in which I find my offers met by
insolent objections. There are, no doubt, other people in London who
can assist me in the business I have in hand. I will wish you good
morning."

She rose, and was about to leave the room. Mr. Larkspur began to think
that he had been rather too cautious; and that perhaps, this plainly-
attired lady might be a very good customer.

"You must excuse me, ma'am," he said, "if I'm rather a suspicious old
chap. You see, it's the nature of my business to make a man suspicious.
If you can pay me for my time, I shall be willing to devote myself to
your service; for I'd much rather give my whole mind to one business,
than have ever so many odds and ends of affairs jostling each other in
my brain. But the fact of it is, ladies very seldom have any idea what
business is: however clever they may be in other matters--playing the
piano, working bead-mats and worsted slippers, and such like. Now, I
dare say you'll open your eyes uncommon wide when I tell you that my
business is worth nigh upon sixteen pound a week to me, taking good
with bad; and though you mayn't be aware of it, ma'am, having, no
doubt, given your mind exclusive to Berlin wool, and such like, sixteen
pound a week is eight hundred a year."

Mr. Larkspur, though not much given to surprise, was somewhat
astonished to perceive that his lady-visitor did not open her eyes any
wider on receiving this intelligence.

"If you have earned eight hundred a year by your profession," she
returned, quietly, "I will give you twenty pounds a week for your
exclusive services, and that will be a thousand and forty pounds a