"And equally difficult for me to reply in the same ceremonious way," responded the duchess. "So call me Herminie and I will call you--" "Ernestine." "Ernestine," exclaimed Herminie, remembering that this was her sister's name,--the name the Comtesse de Beaumesnil had mentioned several times in the young musician's presence when speaking of her beloved daughter; "you are called Ernestine? You spoke of one bond between us just a moment ago; this is another." "What do you mean?" "A lady to whom I was deeply attached had a daughter who was also named Ernestine." "You see how many reasons there are that we should love each other, Herminie," said Mlle. de Beaumesnil; "and as we are friends now, I am going to ask you all sorts of impertinent questions." "Proceed, then!" said Herminie, smiling. "Well, in the first place, what do you do for a living? What is your profession, Herminie?" "I give lessons on the piano and in singing." "How lucky your pupils are! How kind you must be to them!" "No, indeed, I am very severe," replied the duchess, gaily. "And you, Ernestine, what do you do?" "I--I do embroidery and tapestry work," Mlle. de Beaumesnil answered, somewhat embarrassed. "And do you have plenty of work, my dear child?" asked Herminie, with almost maternal solicitude; "work of that kind is usually so very scarce at this season of the year." "I came from the country only a short time ago to join my relative here," replied poor Ernestine, more and more confused; then gathering a certain amount of courage from the very exigency of the situation, she added: "So you see, Herminie, that I have never lacked work yet." "If you ever should, I think I might be able to procure it for you, my dear Ernestine." "You! and how?" "I, too, have done embroidery for some of the large shops, when--well, one may surely confess it to a friend--when pupils were scarce, and I had to eke out a living in that way; so as they were very well satisfied with my work at the establishment of which I speak,--one of the largest in town by the way,--I am still on good terms with them, and feel sure that a recommendation from me would ensure you work if you need it." "But as you embroider, too, Herminie, I should be depriving you of one of your resources, and if pupils should become scarce again, what would you do?" asked Ernestine, deeply touched by Herminie's generous offer. "Oh, I have other resources now," answered the other girl, proudly. "I copy music, too. But the important thing, you see, Ernestine, is to be certain of work, for you, too, alas! know, perhaps, that it is not enough for those who labour for their daily bread to have energy and determination; they must have employment as well." "Certainly, and that is very hard to find sometimes," said Ernestine, sadly, thinking for the first time of the sad lot of many young girls, and reflecting that her new friend had doubtless been in the deplorable situation of which she spoke.