f these numerous applications; and the
sad thing to me is, that it is NOT especially hard. Some innovation
must be made: have you and your directors not the courage to begin? I
am willing to endure all the ridicule that may be cast on myself."

"There are other departments of business where your unquestionable
abilities and skill might be employed and well paid for; but here, I
must repeat, it is impossible--impossible--perfectly impossible. Mr.
Hogarth is going to favour us with his company this evening, and Mrs.
Rennie and my daughter Eliza would be most happy to see you. I would
like to introduce my daughter to a young lady who knows business so
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 employ
women in no way in your large establishment?"

"Yes, as authors; for we find that many books written by ladies sell
quite as well as others."

"But in no other way?"

"Only in this," said the publisher, taking the cousins into a small
room at the back of his large front shop, where eight or ten
nice-looking girls were busily engaged in stitch