‘And yet you were about to do the most foolish thing imaginable, if I had not prevented you,’ observed Miss Jessop. ‘For whatever course you decide upon, it would be foolish to make away with your best clothes, and the money you raised by so doing would only serve to avert for a few days the decision that you would have to come to at last. For instance, if you decide upon returning home to your friends, where would be the use of delaying your return until you had eat up all your clothes? Again if you determined upon receiving the visits of any other gentleman, would it not be foolish to delay accepting of his proposals until you were penniless? If you will take the advice of one who has been in the same position, you will do at once, whatever you decide upon doing, for, however desperate your position may be, procrastination will only make it worse.’ Fanny felt the force of her new friend’s reasoning, and after reflecting upon it for a moment, frankly disclosed her position, signifying the repugnance which she felt to returning home. ‘You see that I understand your position as well as if I had been acquainted with it,’ said Miss Jessop, with a smile. ‘If you will go out with me this evening I will introduce you to a banker who is sure to be delighted with you. He is very liberal, and I know he admires your dark style of beauty above all others.’ Fanny’s curiosity and vanity were both excited by this flattering description, and as reflection had confirmed her in her determination not to return home, little persuasion was needed to induce her to assent to her new friend’s proposition. Night found Fanny and Miss Jessop seated in a temple dedicated equally to Venus and to Bacchus. The former was surprised by the scene which met her gaze, and the appearance of the females who promenaded the saloon, or were seated by the side or on the knees of gay gentlemen, enlightened her both as to the character of the place and that of her companions, if indeed there had been in her mind any doubt as to the latter, previous to her introduction to that flowery scene of vice. ‘There!—that is the person of whom I spoke to you,’ said Miss Jessop, in a whisper, as the banker entered the saloon, and as the roue caught the eye of Fanny’s companion, and saw by her side a beautiful young female whom he had never seen before, he advanced towards the table at which they were seated, and sat down opposite to them. ‘You look blooming to-night, Miss Jessop,’ said he, eyeing Fanny as he spoke. ‘Champagne, waiter. Who is your handsome young friend?’ Fanny blushed at the compliment, and her companion answered, with a smile, ‘A young friend of mine whom I have promised to introduce to you, Mr. Edwards.’