 I have the opportunity.«
    »Matter of business? I'm curious to hear it.«
    »You have as good as informed me, sir, that you are going shortly to be
married?«
    »Yes: what then?«
    »In that case, sir, Adèle ought to go to school: I am sure you will perceive
the necessity of it.«
    »To get her out of my bride's way; who might otherwise walk over her rather
too emphatically. There's sense in the suggestion; not a doubt of it: Adèle, as
you say, must go to school; and you, of course, must march straight to - the
devil?«
    »I hope not, sir: but I must seek another situation somewhere.«
    »In course!« he exclaimed, with a twang of voice and a distortion of
features equally fantastic and ludicrous. He looked at me some minutes.
    »And old Madam Reed, or the Misses, her daughters, will be solicited by you
to seek a place, I suppose?«
    »No, sir; I am not on such terms with my relatives as would justify me in
asking favours of them - but I shall advertise.«
    »You shall walk up the pyramids of Egypt!« he growled. »At your peril you
advertise! I wish I had only offered you a sovereign instead of ten pounds. Give
me back nine pounds, Jane; I've a use for it.«
    »And so have I, sir,« I returned, putting my hands and my purse behind me.
»I could not spare the money on any account.«
    »Little niggard!« said he, »refusing me a pecuniary request! Give me five
pounds, Jane.«
    »Not five shillings, sir; nor five pence.«
    »Just let me look at the cash.«
    »No, sir; you are not to be trusted.«
    »Jane!«
    »Sir?«
    »Promise me one thing.«
    »I'll promise you anything, sir, that I think I am likely to perform.«
    »Not to advertise: and to trust this quest of a situation to me. I'll find
you one in time.«
    »I shall be glad so to do, sir, if you, in your turn, will promise that I
and Adèle shall be both safe out of the house before your bride enters it.«
    »Very well! very well! I'll pledge my word on it. You go
