much care and thought, and a particular kind of talent, which I think I
possess, and which such a life will develop. When can I see Mr. Rennie,
and when can I send in my application?"

"Mr. Rennie particularly desires to see you to-morrow morning; and if
you like the prospect he holds out, your application can be sent in
immediately."

When they reached the small but prettily situated cottage occupied by
Francis, Jane was agreeably struck with the comfort and neatness of
everything about it. The furniture, without being costly, was good of
its kind; the very excellent collection of books was methodically
arranged in ample book-shelves, and carefully preserved by glass doors;
the bright fire in the grate--for though it was called summer, it was
but a bleak cold day in Edinburgh; and the respectable-looking
middle-aged woman who had just laid the cloth for dinner, and now
brought it in; all gave an air of comfort and repose to a dwelling much
humbler than she had been accustomed to live in, but far better than
any she could hope for a while to occupy. There were on a side table a
few costly articles of VERTU, and a magnificent folio of engravings,
which had been bought by Mr. Hogarth since his accession to fortune;
but substantial comfort had been attained long before.

Jane was rather surprised to see the large proportion of poetry and
fiction that filled the book-shelves. Little did Mr. Hogarth the elder
suppose that the bank clerk, whose outer life was so satisfactorily
practical, had an inner life whose elements were as fanciful and unreal
as poor Elsie's. His taste was certainly more severe and fastidious
than hers, for he was older, and had read more; but his love, both of
art and poetry, was very strong, and had been to him in his long