as bounded by the scholastic circle.

'I haven't the faintest idea,' I answered, continuing to paste. 'Only,
as I can't trespass upon your elegant hospitality for life, whatever I
mean to do, I must begin doing this morning, when we've finished the
papering. I couldn't teach' (teaching, like mauve, is the refuge of the
incompetent); 'and I don't, if possible, want to sell bonnets.'

'As a milliner's girl?' Elsie asked, with a face of red horror.

'As a milliner's girl; why not? 'Tis an honest calling. Earls' daughters
do it now. But you needn't look so shocked. I tell you, just at present,
I am not contemplating it.'

'Then what _do_ you contemplate?'

I paused and reflected. 'I am here in London,' I answered, gazing rapt
at the ceiling; 'London, whose streets are paved with gold--though it
_looks_ at first sight like muddy flagstones; London, the greatest and
richest city in the world, where an adventurous soul ought surely to
find some loophole for an adventure. (That piece is hung crooked, dear;
we shall have to take it down again.) I devise a Plan, therefore. I
submit myself to fate; or, if you prefer it, I leave my future in the
hands of Providence. I shall stroll out this morning, as soon as I've
"cleaned myself," and embrace the first stray enterprise that offers.
Our Bagdad teems with enchanted carpets. Let one but float my way, and,
hi, presto, I seize it. I go where glory or a modest competence waits
me. I snatch at the first offer, the first hint of an opening.'

Elsie stared at me, more aghast and more puzzled than ever. 'But, how?'
she asked. 'Where? When? You _are_ so strange! What will you do to find
one?'

'Put on my hat and walk out,' I answered. 'Nothing could be simpler.
This city bursts with enterprises and surprises. Strangers from east and
west hurry through it in all directions. Omnibuses traverse it from end
to end--even, I am told, to Islington and Putney; within, folk sit face
to face who never saw one another before in their lives, and who may
never see one another again, or, on the contrary, may pass the rest of
their days together.'

I had a lovely harangue all pat in my head, in much the same strain, on
the infinite possibilities of entertaining angels unawares, in cabs, on
the Underground, in the aerated bread shops; but Elsie's widening eyes
of horror pulled me up short like a hansom in Piccadilly when the
inexorable upturned hand of the policeman checks it. 'Oh, Brownie,' she
cr