"Weak as I was, this disheartened me, but I fought my way bravely on, and just at eleven rang timidly at the door of an important-looking house, and was superciliously shown, by a stout tall footman in drab livery, into a handsomely-furnished room. Everything in the place I noticed was rich and good: heavy curtains hung by window and door; skins and Eastern rugs lay on the polished wood floor; a tremendous fire blazed in a great brass fire place, and the flames danced and were reflected from the encaustic tiles with which it was surrounded. "`I'll take your note in,' said the footman, as I handed it. `You can sit down.' "I preferred to stand, and as soon as I was alone I shivered with fear and cold, as I caught a glance of my pale, sallow face in a great mirror. Every moment I expected to see the owner of the place, but I remained standing wearily for an hour, and then I sighed and turned wistfully to look at the door, wondering whether the footman had taken in the note which I had given him as my passport. "I started, for close behind me, having entered unheard, was a rather plump tall lady in black. She was dressed as if for going out, and well wrapped in furs. "`Oh! you are waiting,' she said harshly; and a shade of displeasure crossed her face, as she looked full at me till my eyes dropped. `There, Miss--Miss--Miss!' "`Laurie,' I suggested. "`Yes, yes; I know,' she said sharply; `it is in my note. Pray, why in the name of common sense did you not sit down? Take that chair. Now then, have you been companion to a lady before?' "`No, ma'am,' I replied; and then, in answer to her questions, all very sharply given, I told her so much as was necessary of my story. "`I don't think you will suit me,' she said; `I've had misery enough, and I want some one cheerful and agreeable, a lady whom I can trust, and who will be a pleasant companion. There, I'm sure there is not such a body in London, for the way I've been imposed upon is dreadful! I've had six in six months, and the number of applications I have had nearly drove me out of my senses. I've had one since you wrote to me--a creature whose sole idea was herself. I want one who will make me her first consideration. I don't mind what I pay, but I want some one tall and lady-like, and you are not pretty, you know.' "I shook my head sadly. "`Humph! Well,' she went on, `you won't be so giddy, and be always thinking of getting married. There, you need not blush like that; it's what all the companions I have had seem to think about. You don't I suppose?' "`I am engaged to be married,' I said, hanging down my head, `in a couple of years.' "`Ho! Well, he mustn't come here, for I'm a very selfish pragmatical old woman; and if I engaged you--which I don't think I shall do--I should want you all to myself. What is he?' "`A surgeon--abroad,' I faltered. "`Ho! That's better; and perhaps he'll settle there altogether without you.' "I looked at her indignantly, and she laughed.