then each went his or her way, and the gentle lady and fair-browed girl
were left to their fate. It was this--to work if they could get it, if
not, beg or starve. Nobody was interested in their fate. Henceforth they
must be all in all to each other. Their slender stock of money soon
dwindled away. Clemence turned to the one alternative, work. She must
get employment, but where, or how? She had no one to turn to for advice.
Pride forbade her asking help of those who had known them in the days of
their prosperity, and who should have come forward at once with offers
of assistance. There was no one in the great, wide city to give her even
a word of encouragement. She must rely solely upon her own judgment.
What _could_ she do? She might go out as a governess. She ran over in
her mind her list of accomplishments. She had a good knowledge of music,
could draw and paint creditably, was able to converse fluently in
French, Spanish and Italian, besides possessing a thorough English
education. The girl thought, naturally enough, for one of her
inexperience, that she might earn enough for their support by teaching.
At least, she resolved to make the effort, for something must be done
immediately. Her beloved mother was in need of comforts that she could
not supply from their scanty purse. Clemence could not bear to see her
suffer thus, and, after pondering long and deeply upon the subject, she
resolved upon, what was for her, a very bold venture.

Dressing herself modestly and tastefully, she started out in the warm
sunshine of a bright spring day, with the design of applying for the
position of governess at some of the elegant private residences which
graced the fine avenues of the great city where so many like herself
toiled and suffered. She walked slowly along, with a throbbing heart,
and tears that she could not repress filling her eyes; but she
remembered her mother waiting at home, and the thought nerved her.
Hastily opening the gate nearest at hand, she ran up the steps and rang
the bell without giving herself time for thought. A stolid looking
servant came to the door, who eyed her suspiciously, and did not seem
disposed to admit her. However, on her decided request to see the lady
of the house, she was shown a seat in the hall, and left to her
reflections. A moment after, there was the rustle of silken robes, the
sparkle of brilliant jewels, and a cold voice said ominously--

"You wished to speak with me, I believe."