red it necessary for him to engage a secretary.

"They reside at present," he said during the walk from the station, "in a
small house, but will soon remove to a larger one."

"Cobbler" Horn was busy in his workshop when they arrived; but Miss Jemima
was awaiting them in solitary state, in the front-room. The good lady had
meant to be forbidding and severe in her reception of the "forward minx,"
whom she had settled it in her mind the prospective secretary would prove
to be. But the moment her eyes beheld Miss Owen she was disarmed. The
dark-eyed, black-haired, modestly-attired, and even sober-looking girl,
who put out her hand with a very simple movement, and spoke, with
considerable self-possession truly, but certainly not with an impudent
air, bore but scant resemblance to the "brazen hussey" who had haunted
Miss Jemima's mind for the past two days.

"Cobbler" Horn came in from his workshop, and greeted the young girl with
an honest heartiness which placed her at her ease at once.

With almost a cordial air, Miss Jemima invited the visitors to sit down.
As Miss Owen glanced a second time around the room, a look of perplexity
came into her face.

"Do you know, Miss Horn," she said, "your house seems quite familiar to
me. I almost feel as if I had been here before. Of course I never have.
It's just one of those queer feelings everybody has sometimes, as if what
you are going through at the time had all taken place before."

She spoke out the thought of her mind with a simple impulsiveness which
had its own charm.

"No doubt," said Miss Jemima, with a start; but she was deterred from
further remark by Mr. Durnford's rising from his seat.

"I think I'll leave you," he said, "and call for Miss Owen in--say a
quarter of an hour. With your permission, Mr. Horn, she will sleep at
our house to-night."

"Don't go, sir," said "Cobbler" Horn. "Your presence will be a help to
us on both sides."

It needed no further pursuasion to induce the minister to remain: with
his assistance, "Cobbler" Horn soon came to terms with the young lady;
and, as, upon a hint conveyed in the letter she had received from the
minister, she had come to Cottonborough prepared, if necessary, to remain,
it was arranged that she should commence her duties on the following day.

"And would it not be as well for her to come to us to-night?" asked
"Cobbler" Horn. "The sooner she begins to get used to us the better. And
she can still spend the eveni