ver have left if I could have helped it, but one day
something happened at the bank which necessitated the banker's taking a
sudden journey to Spain, and, after that, the house became a somewhat
unpleasant place to live in. Noisy, disagreeable people were continually
knocking at the door and making rows in the passage; and at night folks
threw bricks at the windows.

"'I was in a delicate state of health at the time, and my nerves could
not stand it. I said good-bye to the town, and making my way back into
the country, put up with a county family.

"'They were great swells, but I should have preferred them had they been
more homely. I am of an affectionate disposition, and I like every one
about me to love me. They were good enough to me in their distant way,
but they did not take much notice of me, and I soon got tired of
lavishing attentions on people that neither valued nor responded to them.

"'From these people I went to a retired potato merchant. It was a social
descent, but a rise so far as comfort and appreciation were concerned.
They appeared to be an exceedingly nice family, and to be extremely fond
of me. I say they "appeared" to be these things, because the sequel
proved that they were neither. Six months after I had come to them they
went away and left me. They never asked me to accompany them. They made
no arrangements for me to stay behind. They evidently did not care what
became of me. Such egotistical indifference to the claims of friendship
I had never before met with. It shook my faith--never too robust--in
human nature. I determined that, in future, no one should have the
opportunity of disappointing my trust in them. I selected my present
mistress on the recommendation of a gentleman friend of mine who had
formerly lived with her. He said she was an excellent caterer. The only
reason he had left her was that she expected him to be in at ten each
night, and that hour didn't fit in with his other arrangements. It made
no difference to me--as a matter of fact, I do not care for these
midnight _reunions_ that are so popular amongst us. There are always too
many cats for one properly to enjoy oneself, and sooner or later a rowdy
element is sure to creep in. I offered myself to her, and she accepted
me gratefully. But I have never liked her, and never shall. She is a
silly old woman, and bores me. She is, however, devoted to me, and,
unless something extra attractive turns up, I sha