possibly make her a place among my own servants, but I imagine she
would not care for such a position, for I have always discovered that
the servants who have been in hotels are dissatisfied with any other
sort of service. Besides, you probably do not wish her to associate
with the servant class, and it would be far better for her if she did
not."

"She'd have to go, ma'am, if you was willin' to take her," said the
cobbler, "but, as you say, whether she'd stay or not is a question. Oh,
Mrs. Prency," said he, resuming his work again with violent energy,
"it's the hardest question that ever come up to me in all my life. It's
harder than bein' in jail or breakin' off drinkin' or anythin' else
that I ever tried. It's even harder than goin' to work; I give you my
word it is."

"Mr. Kimper," said the lady, "I'll tell you what I'll do. I give you my
word that I will think earnestly on the subject, and do it at once, and
give myself no rest until I have devised some plan to do what you have
asked me."

"God bless you, ma'am! God bless you!" said the cobbler, dropping a
tear upon one of the grimy hands at work upon the shoe.




CHAPTER IX.


Reynolds Bartram was greatly annoyed by the results of the several