e succeeded in framing an epistle to her satisfaction.
She did not wish--while reminding Sir Francis of whom it was she
was speaking--to recall to him any unpleasant sentiment of an old
obligation; she simply adverted to her father's long friendship for him,
but dropped no hint of his once patronage. She spoke of their reverse in
fortune with dignity, and in the spirit of one who could declare proudly
that their decline in station involved no loss of honor, and she asked
that some employment might be bestowed on her brother, as upon one well
deserving of such a charge.

"I hope there is nothing of the suppliant in all this? I hope it is such
a note as Gusty would have approved of, and that my eagerness to succeed
has involved me in no undue humility." Again and again she read it over;
revising this, and changing that, till at length grown impatient, she
folded it up and addressed it, saying aloud, "There! it is in the chance
humor of him who reads, not in the skill of the writer, lies the luck of
such epistles."

"You forgot to call him Right Honorable, Nelly," said Augustus, as he
looked at the superscription.

"I 'm afraid I 've forgotten more than that, Gusty; but let us hope for
the best."

"What did you ask for?"

"Anything--whatever he can give you, and is disposed to give, I 've
said. We are in that category where the proverb says--there is no
choice."

"I 'd not have said that, Nelly."

"I know that, and it is precisely on that account that I said it for
you. Remember, Gusty, you changed our last fifty pounds in the world
yesterday."

"That's true," said he, sitting down near the table, and covering his
face with both hands.

"There's a gentleman below stairs, madam, wishes to know if he could see
Mr. Bramleigh," said the landlady, entering the room.

"Do you know his name?" said Nelly, seeing that as her brother paid
no attention to the announcement, it might be as well not to admit a
visitor.

"This is his card, madam."

"Mr. Cutbill!" said Nelly, reading aloud. "Gusty," added she, bending
over him, and whispering in his ear, "would you see Mr. Cutbill?"

"I don't care to see him," muttered he, and then rising, he added,
"Well, let him come up; but mind, Nelly, we must on no account ask him
to stay and dine with us."

She nodded assent, and the landlady retired to introduce the stranger.

CHAPTER XXXV. MR. CUTBILL'S VISIT

"If you knew the work I had to find you," said Mr. Cutbill,