, comparable only to the locusts of Egypt; I
washed my hands of the whole tribe months since. But if I could only get an
intelligent, ambitious, honourable, trustworthy young man, he would be a
help to me. I had despaired of finding such, but, on the whole, I rather
like you; believe you can suit me exactly if you will, and I am disposed to
give you a trial. Sit down here and copy this paragraph; let me see what
sort of hieroglyphics I shall have to decipher if I make you my copyist."

Russell silently complied, and after a careful examination it seemed the
chirography was satisfactory.

"Aubrey, you and I can work peaceably together; I value your candour, I
like your resolution. Come to me on Monday, and in the matter of salary you
shall find me liberal enough. I think you told me you had a cousin as well
as your mother to support; I shall not forget it. Now, good morning, and
leave me unless you desire to accumulate work for yourself."

CHAPTER IV

ELECTRA'S DISCOVERY

From early childhood Irene had experienced a sensation of loneliness.
Doubtless the loss of her mother enhanced this feeling, but the peculiarity
of her mental organization would have necessitated it even under happier
auspices. Miss Margaret considered her "a strange little thing," and rarely
interfered with her plans in any respect, while her father seemed to take
it for granted that she required no looking after. He knew that her beauty
was extraordinary; he was proud of the fact; and having provided her with a
good music master, and sent her to the best school in the county, he left
her to employ her leisure as inclination prompted. Occasionally her will
conflicted with his, and more than once he found it impossible to make her
yield assent to his wishes. To the outward observances of obedience and
respect she submitted, but whenever these differences occurred, he felt
that in the end she was unconquered. Inconsistent as it may appear, though
fretted for the time by her firmness, he loved her the more for her
"wilfulness," as he termed it; and despotic and exacting though he
certainly was in many respects, he stood somewhat in awe of his
pure-hearted, calm-eyed child. His ward and nephew, Hugh Seymour, had
resided with him for several years, and it was well known that Mr.
Huntingdon had pledged his daughter's hand to his sister's son. Irene had
never been officially apprised of her destiny, but surmised very accurately
the true state of