stage; might make a fortune with that pretty face,"
came from the sofa where the representative of masculine humanity
reclined.

"Harry, my son!" mildly remonstrated the mother.

"Where were you last employed, Miss--what may I call your name?"

Clemence supplied the missing cognomen, and replied truthfully, that
this was her first attempt to obtain such a position.

"You have references, of course?"

She looked aghast. Inexperienced Clemence! The thought had not, until
this moment, occurred to her. She hesitated. There were many who knew
her well as the only daughter of Grosvenor Graystone, who could not
remember the widow's daughter. There was no one whom she could think of
in her bewilderment to refer to as a friend, none of her former haughty
friends who would not think it an unpardonable liberty.

A stranger, with no references. That settled the question at once. The
mother of young daughters could not be too careful in regard to the
character of the persons she employed around them. A knowledge of their
pedigree was an absolute necessity. The idea of an adventuress stealing
into the household, and perhaps laying snares to entrap the son and
heir, could not be thought of for a moment.

Clemence found herself again upon the side-walk, with cheeks burning
with indignation, and eyes that glittered with excitement. She walked on
rapidly for the space of one or two blocks, and as her feelings became
calmer, resolved to make one final effort. She felt strong in the
conscious power of innocence and rectitude, feeling sure that, being in
the pathway of duty, she would ultimately succeed.

Acting upon this resolution, she soon found herself seated in an
elegantly furnished apartment, where she had been shown by an obsequious
waiter. Having some time to wait, she fell into a reverie from which the
voice of a gentlemen aroused her by inquiring in a dignified manner in
what way he could serve her.

Clemence again went through with her explanations, blushing and
stammering awkwardly enough, as the penetrating eyes fastened themselves
curiously and inquisitively upon her face.

"Ah!" he speculated, when she had finished, "this is really interesting.
It is not often that I am blessed with a fair visitor in my bachelor
apartments. I do not need a governess, having, thank heaven, no such
useless appendage as a troop of noisy children, but I do stand in need
of some beautiful lady, like yourself, for a companion to cheer m