 The office commonly held two examples
of animated nature, more to the purpose of this history, and in whom it has a
stronger interest and more particular concern. Of these, one was Mr. Brass
himself, who has already appeared in these pages. The other was his clerk,
assistant, housekeeper, secretary, confidential plotter, adviser, intriguer, and
bill of cost increaser, Miss Brass - a kind of amazon at common law, of whom it
may be desirable to offer a brief description.
    Miss Sally Brass, then, was a lady of thirty-five or thereabouts, of a gaunt
and bony figure, and a resolute bearing, which if it repressed the softer
emotions of love, and kept admirers at a distance, certainly inspired a feeling
akin to awe in the breasts of those male strangers who had the happiness to
approach her. In face she bore a striking resemblance to her brother Sampson -
so exact, indeed, was the likeness between them, that had it consorted with Miss
Brass's maiden modesty and gentle womanhood to have assumed her brother's
clothes in a frolic and sat down beside him, it would have been difficult for
the oldest friend of the family to determine which was Sampson and which Sally,
especially as the lady carried upon her upper lip certain reddish
demonstrations, which, if the imagination had been assisted by her attire, might
have been mistaken for a beard. These were, however, in all probability, nothing
more than eye-lashes in a wrong place, as the eyes of Miss Brass were quite free
from any such natural impertinences. In complexion Miss Brass was sallow -
rather a dirty sallow, so to speak - but this hue was agreeably relieved by the
healthy glow which mantled in the extreme tip of her laughing nose. Her voice
was exceedingly impressive - deep and rich in quality, and, once heard, not
easily forgotten. Her usual dress was a green gown, in colour not unlike the
curtain of the office window, made tight to the figure, and terminating at the
throat, where it was fastened behind by a peculiarly large and massive button.
Feeling, no doubt, that simplicity and plainness are the soul of elegance, Miss
Brass wore no collar or kerchief except upon her head, which was invariably
ornamented with a brown gauze scarf, like the wing of the fabled vampire, and
which, twisted into any form that happened to suggest itself, formed an easy and
graceful head-dress.
    Such was Miss Brass in person. In mind, she was of a strong and vigorous
turn, having from her earliest youth
