necessary, to assist in
office work. Wages, 2 pounds per week. Personal application to be made
at Messieurs Partridge and Company, 453 Leadenhall Street."

This advertisement was read by a man of five or six and twenty, in a
small room in the upper story of a house in Lupus Street, Pimlico. He
was not the only inmate of the room, for a young woman, apparently not
more than eighteen, was sitting there sewing; her work interrupted,
occasionally, by a short, hacking cough. Her husband, for this was the
relation in which he stood to her, put down the paper carelessly, and
then got up.

"I am going out, dear, on my usual search. You know, we have agreed
that it is of no use my trying to live by my pen. I get an article
accepted, occasionally, but it's not enough to provide more than bread
and cheese. I must look for something else."

"But you must succeed, presently, Gregory."

"Yes, dear; but while the grass grows, the horse starves. At any rate,
I will try for something else. If I get anything, it won't prevent my
writing; and when my genius is recognized, I can drop the other thing,
and take to literature regularly, again.

"Well, I won't be away longer than I can help. Anyhow, I will be back
to our midday banquet. I will bring a couple of rashers of bacon in
with me. We have potatoes enough, I think."

So saying, he kissed his wife tenderly, and went out.

Gregory Hartley belonged to a good family. He was the second son of the
Honorable James Hartley, brother of the Marquis of Langdale. He had
been educated at Harrow and Cambridge; and, after leaving the
university, had gone out to Egypt with a friend of his father's, who
was an enthusiast in the exploration of the antiquities of that
country. Gregory had originally intended to stay there a few months, at
most, but he was infected by the enthusiasm of his companion, and
remained in Egypt for two years; when the professor was taken ill and
died, and he returned home.

A year later, he fell in love with the governess in a neighbouring
family. His feeling was reciprocated, and they became engaged. His
father was furious, when his son told him what had taken place.

"It is monstrous," he said, "after the education that you have had, and
the place that I, if I survive him; or, if not, your brother, will take
at the death of your uncle; that you should dream of throwing yourself
away, in this manner. I have looked to your making a good marriage;
for, as you know, I