le survived the
natural perils that beset one who ventured out of England. They would
have started on their journey before the receipt of the letter. As to
their destination, Miss Pringle said never a word.

A small envelope had fallen into her lap when she opened the letter.
With dimmed eyes Nora opened it. It contained the ten-pound note.

It was a week later that it occurred to Nora to answer two
advertisements that appeared in one of the morning papers. In each case
it was a companion that was wanted. One of the ladies lived at Whitby
and pending the answer to her letter she decided to call personally on
the other, who lived at Hampstead.

The morning being fine, she decided to make an early start and walk
about on Hampstead Heath until a suitable hour for making her call. When
she finally arrived before the house, a rather pretentious looking
structure in South Hampstead, she was met at the gate by a middle-aged
woman of unprepossessing appearance, who inquired rather sharply as to
her errand.

"Mrs. Blake's card distinctly said that all applications were to be made
in writing," she said disagreeably, in reply to Nora's explanation.

"The one I read did not, at least I don't think it did," said Nora.

"Well, if it didn't, it should have," said the woman tartly.

"May I ask if _you_ are Mrs. Blake?"

"Write and you may find out; although I might as well tell you, you
won't answer. Mrs. Blake will be wanting someone of a very different
appearance," said the woman rudely.

"I am indeed unfortunate," said Nora with a bow.

The woman closed the gate with a bang and turned toward the house as
Nora walked rapidly away. She decided to answer no more advertisements.

One morning, at the end of the week, the post brought her three letters.
One from its postmark was clearly from her brother in Canada. She put
that aside for the moment to be read at her leisure.

[Illustration: NORA OVERHEARS FRANK SAY WIVES ARE MADE FOR WORK ONLY.]

The Yorkshire lady, it appeared, was blind and required a companion to
read to her and to assist in preparing some memoirs which her dead
brother had left uncompleted. She offered Nora a refined home with every
comfort that a lady could desire, but--there was no salary attached to
the position. The third was from one of the agencies. A client was
prepared to offer a lady companion the magnificent sum of ten shillings
a week and her lunch. Out of her salary Nora would be expected,
th