well. You will be good enough to pardon my necessary incivility: most
painful to me it has been to refuse your request, backed by such
excellent reasons,--but you will accompany Mr. Hogarth, and show you
are not unforgiving."

Jane accepted the invitation willingly. Francis was not pressed for
time; the bank had released him without the usual notice, so he offered
to accompany his cousin wherever she chose to go to.

"Do you think," said she, when they were again in the street,
"that I could get employment with any bookseller or publisher? I will
try that next. Will you go with me to a respectable house in that line
of business?"

There was no situation vacant for any one in the first two
establishments they called at. In the third there was a reader wanted
to correct manuscripts and proofs, and as Mr. Hogarth was supposed to
be the person applying for the employment, he was asked his
qualifications. When he somewhat awkwardly put forward Miss Melville,
the publisher respectfully but firmly declined to engage her.

"Whatever I could or could not do--whatever salary I might ask--you
object on account of my being a woman?" said Jane.

"Just so," said the publisher; "it is not the custom of the trade to
employ LADIES OF THE PRESS. You do not know the terms or the routine of
the business."

"I suppose I could learn them in an hour or two; but I see you do not
wish to employ me, even if I had them at my finger-ends. Do you