Owen--Owen the respectable--looked blank astonishment. He repeated
in a nameless, varying tone, the two words--

'Lady's-maid!'

'Yes; lady's-maid. 'Tis an honest profession,' said Cytherea
bravely.

'But _you_, Cytherea?'

'Yes, I--who am I?'

'You will never be a lady's-maid--never, I am quite sure.'

'I shall try to be, at any rate.'

'Such a disgrace--'

'Nonsense! I maintain that it is no disgrace!' she said, rather
warmly. 'You know very well--'

'Well, since you will, you must,' he interrupted. 'Why do you put
"inexperienced?"'

'Because I am.'

'Never mind that--scratch out "inexperienced." We are poor,
Cytherea, aren't we?' he murmured, after a silence, 'and it seems