"My acquaintance would be anything but profitable to you. I often
haven't enough money to live on, and--"

Ida stooped down and played for a few moments with Grim, who turned
over lazily on to his back, and stroked his mistress's hands
delicately with his soft white paws.

"But you are a gentleman," she said, rising again, and rustling over
the pages of the book she still held. "Are you in the city?"

"The Lord deliver me!"

"What then?"

"I am nothing."

"Then you must be rich."

"It by no means follows. Yesterday I was a teacher in a school.
To-day I am what is called out of work."

"A teacher. But I suppose you'll get another place."

"No. I've given it up because I couldn't endure it any longer."

"And how are you going to live?"

"I have no idea."

"Then you must have been very foolish to give away your money like