ambition that's got to such a towering height there's no reaching it
or compassing it: how get her to be pleased with me and my station
as she used to be when I first knew her?'

'Truly, that's a hard question, my man. What does she aspire to?'

'She's got a craze for fine furniture.'

'How long has she had it?'

'Only just now.'

The Baron seemed still more to experience regret.

'What furniture does she specially covet?' he asked.

'Silver candlesticks, work-tables, looking-glasses, gold tea-things,
silver tea-pots, gold clocks, curtains, pictures, and I don't know
what all--things I shall never get if I live to be a hundred--not so
much that I couldn't raise the money to buy 'em, as that to put it to
other uses, or save it for a rainy day.'

'You think the possession of those articles would make her happy?'

'I really think they might, my lord.'

'Good. Open your pocket-book and write as I tell you.'

Jim in some astonishment did as commanded, and elevating his pocket-
book against the garden-wall, thoroughly moistened his pencil, and