alarge,fashionable,south-of-Englandcity,whereeachheldasituationinfamiliesbywhosewealthyandhaughtymemberstheywereregardedonlyashumbledependants,andwhoherknewnhtouttheirinnateexcellences,andappreciatedonlytheiracquiredaplishmentsastheyappreciatedtheskilloftheircookorthetasteoftheirwaiting-woman.Mr.St.Johnhadsaidnothingtomeyetabouttheemploymenthehadpromisedtoobtainforme;yetitbecameurgentthatIshouldhaveavocationofsomekind.Onem,beialohhimafewmiheparlour,Iveoapproachthewindow-recess—whichhistable,chair,anddesksecratedasakindofstudy—andIwasgoingtospeak,thoughnotverywellknowinginwhatwordstoframemyinquiry—foritisatalltimesdifficulttobreaktheiceofreserveglassingoversuaturesashis—whenhesavedmethetroublebybeingthefirsttoenceadialogue.

    LookingupasIdrewnear—“Youhaveaquestiontoaskofme?”hesaid.

    “Yes;IwishtoknowwhetheryouhaveheardofanyserviceIoffermyselftouake?”

    “Ifoundordevisedsomethingforyouthreeweeksago;butasyouseemedbothusefulandhappyhere—asmysistershadevidentlybeeattachedtoyou,andyoursocietygavethemunusualpleasure—IdeemeditinexpedienttobreakinonyourmutualforttilltheirapproagdeparturefromMarshEndshouldrenderyoursnecessary.”

    “Andtheywillgointhreedaysnow?”Isaid.

    “Yes;aheygo,IshallreturntotheparsoMorton:Hannahwillapanyme;andthisoldhousewillbeshutup.”

    Iwaitedafewmoments,expeghewouldgoonwiththesubjectfirstbroached:butheseemedtohaveenteredarainofrefle:hislookdenotedabstrafrommeandmybusiness.Iwasobligedtorecallhimtoathemewhichwasofyoneofcloseandanxiousio