“Even were our sympathies not enlisted in your behalf, Doctor Grantlin’s request would insure your admission, at least for a season.  Where is your luggage?”

“I have only a trunk, for which I have retained the railway check, until I ascertained your willingness to receive me.”

“Give it to me.”

She crossed the room and pressed the knob of a bell on the opposite wall.  Almost simultaneously a door opened, and to a stout, middle-aged woman who appeared on the threshold, the matron gave instructions in an under tone.

Returning to the stranger, she resumed: 

“I infer from the Doctor’s letter, that you are a gifted person.  In what lines do your talents run?”

“Perhaps I should not lay claim to talent, but I am, by grace of study, a good musician; and I draw and paint, at least with facility.  At one time I supported my mother and myself by singing in a choir, but diphtheria closed that avenue of work.  With the restoration of health, I think I have recovered my voice.  I am an expert needle woman, and can embroider well, especially on fine linen.”

“Do you feel competent to teach a class in ‘water color’, in our Art School?  Our aquarelle Sister is threatened with amaurosis, and the oculist prohibits all work at present.”

“You can form an opinion of my qualifications by examining some sketches which are in my trunk.  I have furnished several designs for the ‘Society of Decorative Art’, and have sold a number of painted articles at the Woman’s Exchange.”

“Then I think you have only to step into a vacant niche, and supply a need which was beginning to perplex us.  During the latter part of September, an International Scientific Congress will be held in this city, and one of our patrons, Mr. Brompton, who expects to entertain the distinguished foreign delegates, has given us an order for dinner cards for eight courses, and each set for twenty-four covers.  As nearly as we can comprehend the design, his intention is to represent the order of creation in fish, game, fruits and flowers; and each card will illustrate some special era in geology and zoology.  The cream and ices set are expected to show the history of Polar regions as far as known, and at the conclusion of the banquet, each guest will be presented with a velvet smoking cap, to which must be attached a card representing ’scientific soap-bubbles pricked by the last scientists’ junta’.  Now while the ‘Anchorage’s’ cultured art standard claims to be as high as any, East, we should scarcely venture to fill this order, had not two of the professors in our University, promised to map out the order, and furnish some dots in the way of engravings, which will aid the accomplishment of the work; and we are particularly desirous of pleasing our patron, from whom the ‘Anchorage’ expects a bequest.  If you think you can successfully undertake a portion of this order, given us by Mr. Brompton, we shall make you doubly welcome.”