ve
to turn governess or companion, the first thing I should do would be
to change my name. 'They,' he remarked,--but I don't well know whom he
exactly meant,--'they don't like broken-down gentlefolk. They suspect
them of this, that, and the other;' and he suggested I should call
myself Miss Cutbill. Did you ever hear impertinence equal to that?"

"But it may have been kindly intentioned, Nelly. I have no doubt he
meant to do a good-natured thing."

"Save me from good-nature that is not allied with good manners, then,"
said she, growing crimson as she spoke.

"I have not escaped scot-free, I assure you," said he, smiling; "but it
seems to me a man really never knows what the world thinks of him till
he has gone through the ordeal of broken fortune. By the way, where is
Cattaro? the name sounds Italian."

"I assumed it to be in Italy somewhere, but I can't tell you why."

Bramleigh took down his atlas, and pored patiently over Italy and her
outlying islands for a long time, but in vain. Nelly, too, aided him in
his search, but to no purpose. While they were still bending over the
map, Cutbill entered with a large despatch-shaped letter in his hand.

"The Queen's messenger has just handed me that for you, Bramleigh. I
hope it's good news."

Bramleigh opened and read:--

"Foreign Office.

"Sir,--I have had much pleasure in submitting your name to Her Majesty
for the appointment of consul at Cattaro, where your salary will be two
hundred pounds a year, and twenty pounds for office expenses. You will
repair to your post without unnecessary delay, and report your arrival
to this department.

"I am, &c, &c,

"RIDDLESWORTH."

"Two hundred a year! Fifty less than we gave our cook!" said Bramleigh,
with a faint smile.

"It is an insult, an outrage," said Nelly, whose face and neck glowed
till they appeared crimson. "I hope, Gusty, you 'll have the firmness to
reject such an offer."

"What does Mr. Cutbill say?" asked he, turning towards him.

"Mr. Cutbill says that if you 're bent on playing Don Quixote, and
won't go back and enjoy what's your own, like a sensible man, this
pittance--it ain't more--is better than trying to eke out life by your
little talents."

Nelly turned her large eyes, open to the widest, upon him, as he spoke,
with an expression so palpably that of rebuke for his freedom, that he
replied to her stare by saying,--

"Of course I am very free and easy. More than that, I 'm downright
rude.