As Miss Pillbody could not continue her course of instruction at Mrs. Crull’s residence, without being detected in the act by the invalid lord of that mansion; and as it was clearly impracticable for Mrs. Crull to go to Miss Pillbody’s boarding house, and turn the widow Pillbody out of the little room which mother and daughter jointly occupied, the generous pupil hit upon the idea of renting the ground floor of a house for her teacher, setting apart one room as a schoolroom, fitting it up for her in comfortable style, and helping her to get wealthy adult pupils enough to pay all the expenses of the establishment, and a handsome income besides.

Miss Pillbody thankfully accepted the noble offer; though she feared that she would never obtain scholars enough to repay the money which Mrs. Crull was willing to advance, and also to defray the current expenses of housekeeping.

Mrs. Crull entertained no such fears.  She had great faith in the efficacy of advertising.  She had personally known three quacks who made half a million apiece out of patent medicines; and one woman who had turned a common recipe for removing superfluous hair into an eligible establishment in Thirty-second street, and a country cottage, with sixteen acres under good cultivation.  She believed that newspaper advertising was the shortest and surest road to fortune; and the only standing cause of quarrel between her and her husband was the latter’s incredulous “Pooh! pooh!” at her theory upon this subject.

At her request, Miss Pillbody drew up this advertisement, and caused it to be inserted twice in three daily papers: 

“To LADIES IN GOOD SOCIETY WHO DESIRE TO IMPROVE THEIR EDUCATION.—­A young lady who has moved in wealthy and fashionable circles, and has received the best education that New York city could afford, having met with reverses in fortune, would be happy to accept, as private pupils, a few ladies whose early cultivation was, for any reason, neglected.  French, Italian, Spanish, vocal music, the piano, and all the English rudiments, taught at reasonable prices.  Particular attention paid to pronunciation, spelling, and writing.  Satisfactory references given and required.

“N.B.—­Pupils taught separately, and at different hours.

“For further information, address ‘Educatrix, New York Post Office.’”

* * * * *

There were many points in this advertisement to which Miss Pillbody’s modesty took exception; but Mrs. Crull insisted upon them in a way that permitted no refusal.  The little bit of bragging was the principal thing, she said.  She had always observed that people are inclined to believe bragging advertisements, though they openly profess that they can’t be taken in by them.  As for the satisfactory references, she would undertake to give them, if they were required—­which, of course, they would not be, as the mere offering of them invariably sufficed.  If called upon,