of his housekeeper-aunt's appearance,
character, and attainments; she wondered how he employed himself all
day, suggested improvements in his grounds, and was much concerned to
hear of a fire among the stacks at the home farm. Then he adroitly led
the conversation to herself, beginning with a reference to the subject
in which she appeared most deeply interested.

"I suppose you amuse yourself with music. As you sing and play and
compose, you have plenty of variety to keep you going. The worst of
possessing so many talents is, that they are so much appreciated by
other people that they want to work you to death for their amusement.
Last night, for instance! It was too bad to keep you at the piano all
evening, and treat you as though you were a professional accompanist."

"I wish I was," sighed Hope wistfully; and when her companion looked at
her with a start of surprise, "That is what I want to be," she added
simply. "I have to earn my living in some way, and neither my voice nor
my playing is good enough for public performances; but I _can_
accompany. I should be thankful if any one _would_ hire me for the
purpose."

Ralph Merrilies looked at her in silent astonishment. He had taken for
granted that, as the niece of the wealthy Mr Loftus, Hope Charrington
occupied the same position in society. Man-like, he had noticed none of
the signs of poverty in her attire which were plain as print to feminine
eyes. What if her attire was always of the simplest description? She
invariably looked better than any other girl in the room. If one
solitary dress did duty every evening, a new arrangement of laces
transformed it in his eyes; and if she wore no jewels, the round white
throat and arms looked all the better for their lack of adornment. It
gave him a shock of surprise to hear her speak of making her own
livelihood.

"Do you really mean that?" he asked gravely; and in reply Hope gave him
a short biographical sketch, which explained the present position of the
family. "So you see I am responsible for a share of our expenses," she
said in conclusion, "and it is not so easy to earn as I expected. I
thought I should have little difficulty in getting songs published, but
I find it is very difficult indeed; and even if I sold one or two in the
year, they would bring in very little, so I must find something that is
more certain. I should make a good accompanist, for I can read at sight
and transpose as I go, and kno