. It was impossible to
out-reason so extraordinary an applicant, but it was still more
impossible to grant her request. Skilled as the banker was in the
delicate and difficult art of saying "No," it had to be said oftener
and more distinctly to Jane Melville than to the most pertinacious of
customers, to whom discount must be refused.

"I admire your spirit, Miss Melville. If one thing cannot be
accomplished you must try another. But in an establishment like this,
you see, I could not possibly take you in. A private employer might
admire your undoubted ability; but I am responsible to a Board of
Directors, and they would decidedly oppose such an innovation. Your
sex, you are aware, are not noted for powers of secrecy. I dare say it
is a prejudice; but bank directors and bank customers have prejudices,
and no one likes any additional chance of having his affairs made
public."

"You know you are talking nonsense, my good sir," said Jane. "It is
because women have never had any responsibilities that they have been
supposed to be unworthy of trust. Where they have been honoured with
confidence they have been quite as faithful to it as any men."

"But, my dear madam," said Mr. Rennie, "what would be the consequence
if all the clever women like yourself were to thrust themselves into
masculine avocations? Do you not see that the competition would reduce
the earnings of men, and then there would be fewer who could afford to
marry? The customs of society press hard upon the exceptional women who
court a wider field of usefulness, but I believe the average happiness
is secured by----"

"By a system that makes forty-five educated women eager to give their
life's work for 12 pounds a-year, and fifty applying for the
magnificent salary of 30 pounds for a most exhausting and responsible
situation. These are not all exceptional women, Mr. Rennie, but many of
the average women whose happiness you are so careful of. You know there
are enormous numbers of single women and widows in this country who
must be supported, either by their own earnings or by those of the
other sex, for they MUST live, you know."

Mr. Rennie smiled at Jane's earnestness.

"You smile, 'ON NE VOIT PAS LA NECESSITE'," said Jane. "I dare say it
would really be better for us to die."

"I am sure nothing was further from my lips than either the language or
the sentiment. I think your case especially hard--ESPECIALLY hard."

"I thought it was, till I heard o