of contrast to the style of business that
was done by the firm to which my faith was pinned. Indeed I felt badly
sometimes, and wondered if it could be that my hero were lacking in
enterprise and what the world calls "push." But as I observed more
closely, I dismissed this suspicion as unjust; for I began to note that
one or two of the grave, important-looking men whom Roger Dale treated
with so much suavity, were much more frequent visitors over the way.
Besides, the plate-glass windows were very small, and it was next to
impossible to see what went on inside. Mr. Prime always stayed at his
office until nearly six o'clock, and once or twice he was still at work
at his desk when the darkness drove me home. In these afternoon hours
the street was nearly deserted, and sometimes I ventured close up to the
window and peered through. I could see him in a little inner office,
writing and poring over papers and accounts. Once while I was thus
occupied, a policeman greatly alarmed me by tapping me on the shoulder
and observing roughly, "Now then, young woman, move on."

After this I felt the necessity of using more discretion; and lest this
narration may prejudice the judicious too strongly against me, let it be
said that I passed in all only some eight or ten days in this manner
during the six weeks Aunt Helen and I were in New York together.
Perhaps, however, this was due somewhat to the difficulty I found in
evading her eagle eye, for owing to the necessary changes in my dress I
had to invent some excuse commensurate with such a dilapidated
appearance. As excursions among the poor twice a week could not
seem improbable, I let them account for the plain stuff-gown and
unfashionable hat that I wore on the occasion of my down-town visits,
and limited myself accordingly. Aunt Helen really shed tears at first
because I looked so like a guy; but when I represented to her that it
would be cruel to flaunt silks and satins in the faces of those to whom
such luxuries were forbidden, to say nothing of the risk one ran of
being insulted if gaudily attired, she withdrew her objections. "But
only think," said she, "if any of your acquaintances should see you
rigged out like that! It could not fail to strike the Honorable Ernest
Ferroll as exceedingly peculiar at the best."

IV.

Although I had striven to keep our visit to New York a secret, it
was hardly to be expected, in view of my quasi celebrity at home as
a society character, co