egrity, his knowledge, and the
sweetness of his manners."

My name "Bank," which signifies "bench" or "high seat," I derived from
Italian forefathers, who, in early days, carried on their business in
the public places or exchanges on _benches_.

This business of theirs consisted chiefly in being the depositories of
the wealth of rich people, and making payments for them according to
written orders, and further in receiving money from some people on
interest, and lending it to others at a higher rate. I have been told
that in their day making a profit by lending money was not considered at
all an aristocratic proceeding, and procured for those who indulged in
it the name of usurers, a word I do not like; it savours of sordidness.

From my very birth I was educated to be reliable, steady, secure, and
faithful, and to be true and just in all my dealings.

It was made clear to me that it was the lack of these qualities in the
money affairs of the kingdom which had led to the necessity of my
existence, and I was made distinctly to understand that it was only upon
my developing largely these peculiar traits of character that I should
continue the existence thus begun.

* * * * *

My education was quite different from that of other girls. I had to
learn arithmetic almost before I could speak, and the state and
condition of kings and governments were instilled into my mind as
regularly as food into my body.

There were no novels, no light literature for me, except what I could
extract for myself out of the dry material placed before me. Still, my
mind was not warped with this peculiar bringing up, and now that I am an
old woman, I think I can see that I owe this to the character of those
who governed and directed me.

Of course, this peculiar education and training kept me far ahead of
other girls, and while they were scarcely out of the nursery, and still
enjoying battledore and shuttlecock, I was seeking information, either
by reading or conversation, concerning my forefathers, position, duties,
and property.

Young as I was, I began to feel creeping over me a sense of
responsibility, and a longing to know how best to fulfil all that was
required of me. I knew that I was rich, but how did I become so? I knew
that my riches were expected to make others rich, but how? I was always
asking questions, and sometimes succeeded in getting an answer, which
served as a clue, and sent me to sear