“It is not the custom, my dear young lady; I can get young men in plenty who want the place.”

“I have no doubt that you can, but I want it too; and, in consideration of the prejudice against my sex, I will take the place, and accept the salary you would give to a raw lad of sixteen, though I am an educated and experienced woman of twenty-three.  I want something that I can rise by.  I could be satisfied with the career of my cousin, without the fortune at the end.  Young women in Paris are clerks and bookkeepers; why should they not be so here?”

“France is not Scotland, or Auld Reekie Paris.  We consider our customs very much better than the French.  Why, you know quite well it would never do.  You would turn the heads of all my clerks, and make them idle away their time and neglect their work.  You do not see the danger of the thing.”

“No, I do not,” answered Jane.  “Do I look like a person who would turn any man’s head?  If I do such mischief, turn me off; but I ask, in the name of common sense and common justice, a fair trial.  If I do not give satisfaction I will stand the consequences.”

The serious earnestness with which Jane pleaded for so strange an employment—­the matter-of-fact way in which she stood upon her capabilities, without regarding suitabilities—­impressed Francis Hogarth while it embarrassed Mr. Rennie.  It was impossible to out-reason so extraordinary an applicant, but it was still more impossible to grant her request.  Skilled as the banker was in the delicate and difficult art of saying “No,” it had to be said oftener and more distinctly to Jane Melville than to the most pertinacious of customers, to whom discount must be refused.

“I admire your spirit, Miss Melville.  If one thing cannot be accomplished you must try another.  But in an establishment like this, you see, I could not possibly take you in.  A private employer might admire your undoubted ability; but I am responsible to a Board of Directors, and they would decidedly oppose such an innovation.  Your sex, you are aware, are not noted for powers of secrecy.  I dare say it is a prejudice; but bank directors and bank customers have prejudices, and no one likes any additional chance of having his affairs made public.”

“You know you are talking nonsense, my good sir,” said Jane.  “It is because women have never had any responsibilities that they have been supposed to be unworthy of trust.  Where they have been honoured with confidence they have been quite as faithful to it as any men.”

“But, my dear madam,” said Mr. Rennie, “what would be the consequence if all the clever women like yourself were to thrust themselves into masculine avocations?  Do you not see that the competition would reduce the earnings of men, and then there would be fewer who could afford to marry?  The customs of society press hard upon the exceptional women who court a wider field of usefulness, but I believe the average happiness is secured by-----”