"I have done nothing the last few days but look for one. Besides the places advertised, I can't tell you how many banks and other establishments I have made bold to go into, asking if they want a clerk. A hundred a-year would be something." "It would be a great deal," replied Edina, significantly. "Salaries to that amount are certainly hard to find. I question if you would get half of it at first." A blank look overspread Charley's face. Edina's judgment had always been sound. "But why do you question it, Edina?" "Because you are inexperienced: totally unused to business; to work of any kind." "Yes, that's what some of the people say when they question me." "There is one person who might help you to such a situation, if he would," observed Edina, slowly. "But I shall offend you if I speak of him, Charles: as I did once before." "You mean George Atkinson!" "I do. If he chose to put you into his bank, he might give you any salary he pleased; and he might be willing to do it, whether you earned it or not. I think he would, if I asked him." There was a pause. Edina's thoughts were carrying her back to the old days when George Atkinson had been all the world to her. It would cost her something to apply to him; but for the sake of this helpless family, she must bring her mind to doing it. "What do you say, Charles?" "I say yes, Edina. I have nothing but humble-pie to eat just now: it will be only another slice of it. Banking work seems to consist of everlastingly adding up columns of figures: I should grow expert at it no doubt in time." "Then I will go to-morrow and see whether he is in town," decided Edina. "If not, I must travel down to Eagles' Nest." "You might write instead," suggested Mrs. Raynor. "No, Mary, I will not write. A personal interview gives so much more chance of success in an application of this nature." "_I_ could not apply to him personally," sighed Mrs. Raynor. But Edina never shrank from a duty; and the next morning saw her at the banking-house of Atkinson and Street, the very house where she had spent those few happy days of her early life when she had learned to love. Mr. Street and his wife lived in it now. She went to the private door and asked for him. He had known her in those days; and a smile actually crossed his calm cold face as he shook hands with her: and to her he proved more communicative than he generally showed himself to the world. "Is Mr. Atkinson in town?" she inquired, when a few courtesies had passed. "No. He----" "I feared not," quickly spoke Edina, for she had quite anticipated the answer. "I thought he would be at Eagles' Nest." "But he is not at Eagles' Nest," interposed the banker. "He is on the high seas, on his way to New Zealand." "On his way to New Zealand!" echoed Edina, hardly thinking, in her surprise, that she heard correctly. "He went away again immediately. I do not suppose he was in London a fortnight altogether."