"Nor I, for my own sake, dear. The life of a governess is not so
cheerful as to cause one regret, at leaving it."

And so, Gregory Hartley and his wife went out to Alexandria, and
established themselves in three bright rooms, in the upper part of a
house that commanded a view of the port, and the sea beyond it. The
outlay required for furniture was small, indeed: some matting for the
floors, a few cushions for the divans which ran round the rooms, a bed,
a few simple cooking utensils, and a small stock of crockery sufficed.

Mr. Ferguson, the manager of the branch, had at first read the letter
that Gregory had brought him with some doubt in his mind, as to the
wisdom of his principal, in sending out a man who was evidently a
gentleman. This feeling, however, soon wore away; and he found him
perfectly ready to undertake any work to which he was set.

There was, indeed, nothing absolutely unpleasant about this. He was at
the office early, and saw that the native swept and dusted the offices.
The rest of the day he was either in the warehouse, or carried
messages, and generally did such odd jobs as were required. A fortnight
after his arrival, one of the clerks was kept away by a sharp attack of
fever; and as work was pressing, the agent asked Gregory to take his
place.

"I will do my best, sir, but I know nothing of mercantile accounts."

"The work will be in no way difficult. Mr. Hardman will take Mr.
Parrot's ledgers; and, as you will only have to copy the storekeeper's
issues into the books, five minutes will show you the form in which
they are entered."

Gregory gave such satisfaction that he was afterwards employed at
office work, whenever there was any pressure.

A year and a half passed comfortably. At the end of twelve months, his
pay was raised another ten shillings a week.

He had, before leaving England, signed a contract to remain with the
firm for two years. He regretted having to do this, as it prevented his
accepting any better position, should an opening occur; but he
recognized that the condition was a fair one, after the firm paying for
his outfit and for two passages. At the end of eighteen months, Gregory
began to look about for something better.

"I don't mind my work a bit," he said to his wife, "but, if only for
the sake of the boy" (a son had been born, a few months after their
arrival), "I must try to raise myself in the scale, a bit. I have
nothing to complain about at the office; fa