"Oh, I have no doubt whatever of that," replied the clerk, "but there is a condition in every lease in that special Square, that money is not to be earned on the premises. I presume your guests would not come to you for nothing?" "Certainly not," I replied. I felt myself turning cold and stiff. All the angry blood of my noble ancestors stirred in my veins. I said a few more words and left the shop. "Well?" asked mother. She was looking dreary and terribly huddled up in the carriage. It was a warm day, but I think going through those empty houses had chilled her. "Well, Westenra, have you taken No. 17?" "Alas! no," I answered in some heat; "would you believe it, mother, the agent says the landlord will not let us the house if we make money in it." "If we make money in it? I do not understand," answered mother. Her blue eyes were fixed on my face in an anxious way. "Why, mother, darling, don't you know we meant to fill the house with paying guests." "Oh, I forgot," said mother. "Home, Jenkins, as fast as possible." Jenkins whipped up the horses, and we trotted home. Mother looked distinctly relieved. "So you have not taken the house?" she said. "I cannot get it," I answered. "It is more than provoking. What are we to do? I had taken such a fancy to the place." "It did seem, for that benighted place, fairly cheerful," said my mother, "but, Westenra, there is a Providence guiding our paths. Doubtless Providence does not intend you to wreck your young life attending to lodgers." "But, mother dear, don't you understand that we must do something for our living? It is disappointing, but we shall get over it somehow." During the rest of that day mother refused even to discuss the boarding-house scheme. She seemed to think that because we could not get 17 Graham Square, there was no other house available for our purpose. The next day I went out without mother. I did not visit the same agent. After finding myself in Bloomsbury I repaired to a post-office, and, taking down the big Directory, secured the names of several agents in the neighbourhood. These I visited in turn. I had dressed myself very plainly; I had travelled to my destination by 'bus. I thought that I looked exactly what I felt--a very business-like young woman. Already the gulf was widening between my old and my new life. Already I was enjoying my freedom.