ead the replies to
_Correspondents_, and would especially recommend those published in a
serial conducted by Miss Annie Swan.'

Miss Crofton shook her head.

'Miss Baddeley's social position is not that of the people who are
answered in periodicals.'

'Then why does she not consult some discreet and learned person, her
spiritual director? Remorse (entirely due, no doubt, to a conscience too
delicately sensitive) is not in our line of affairs. We only advise in
cases of undesirable matrimonial engagements.'

'So we are aware,' said Miss Crofton. 'Dear Julia _is_ engaged, or
rather entangled, in--how many cases, dear?'

Julia shook her head and sobbed behind her veil.

'Is it one, Julia--nod when I come to the exact number--two? three?
four?'

At the word 'four' Julia nodded assent.

Merton very much wished that Julia would raise her veil. Her figure was
excellent, and with so many sins of this kind on her remorseful head, her
face, Merton thought, must be worth seeing. The case was new. As a
rule, clients wanted to disentangle their friends and relations. _This_
client wanted to disentangle herself.

'This case,' said Merton, 'will be difficult to conduct, and the expenses
would be considerable. I can hardly advise you to incur them. Our
ordinary method is to throw in the way of one or other of the engaged, or
entangled persons, some one who is likely to distract their affections;
of course,' he added, 'to a more eligible object. How can I hope to find
an object more eligible, Miss Crofton, than I must conceive your
interesting friend to be?'

Miss Crofton caressingly raised Julia's veil. Before the victim of
remorse could bury her face in her hands, Merton had time to see that it
was a very pretty one. Julia was dark, pale, with 'eyes like billiard
balls' (as a celebrated amateur once remarked), with a beautiful mouth,
but with a somewhat wildly enthusiastic expression.

'How can I hope?' Merton went on, 'to find a worthier and more attractive
object? Nay, how can I expect to secure the services not of one, but of
_four_--'

'Three would do, Mr. Merton,' explained Miss Crofton. 'Is it not so,
Julia dearest?'

Julia again nodded assent, and a sob came from behind the veil, which she
had resumed.

'Even three,' said Merton, gallantly struggling with a strong inclination
to laugh, 'present difficulties. I do not speak the idle language of
compliment, Miss Crofton, when I say that our staff