And when I thought of this, I no longer hesitated, but determined to publish to the world all my long experience with servants of all kinds, and countries, and colours, so that I might, as it were, become the pilot of young wives, to steer their fragile little barks through the rocks and precipices of domestic life, and prevent their happiness being wrecked as mine has been--I may say, at my own fire-side--and their household gods turned neck and crop into the streets, to wander to and fro, without so much as a place to put their heads in. But how was all this to be done? Who was to help me in bringing this charitable work before the world? At length I remembered having bought some books of a publisher in Fleet-street, who had been, on two or three occasions, very polite to me. To him I would go in the morning, and get him to assist me in my noble undertaking. I did so. But the courteous reader shall learn what transpired in another chapter. INTRODUCTION II. HOW I BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH THE PUBLISHER OF MY LITTLE BOOK. “We met: ’twas in a crowd, And I thought he would shun me! He came: I could not breathe, For his eyes were upon me. He spoke: his words were cold; And his smile was unalter’d.” “WE MET.”--HAYNES BAYLY. The next morning, as soon as ever breakfast was over, and Edward had gone down to his office in L--nc--n’s I--n, I retired from the public sitting-room, to my _private_ bed room; and as it was a fine morning, and would be the first time that I had ever spoken to Mr. B----e on business, I thought it would be better to put on my best bonnet (a black velvet one, with a black bird of Paradise in it,) which I had worn as yet only on Sundays, at church; and having done so, I made the best of my way towards Fleet-street. When I reached the door of the shop, I really had scarcely courage to turn the handle; I had often heard of the nervousness of Genius, but never before had experienced the feeling myself. I’m sure, I felt as if my heart were in my mouth; and anybody that had wished, might have knocked me down with a feather. So, to bring myself round, I looked at some of the sweet, pretty engravings in the front of the shop; and having just passed my handkerchief over my face, and arranged my bonnet and hair as well as I could, in the plate-glass windows, I at last summoned up strength to enter. Standing by the fire, in the shop, was a good-looking young man, of a dark complexion, and dressed in a tail-coat, who advanced towards me as I entered. “Mr. B----e, I presume,” I said, addressing him, with an amiable smile. “In the next room, if you please, ma’m,” he replied, in a tone of becoming diffidence. “Thank you,” I replied, with a lady-like curtsey, and immediately stepped into the room alluded to.