New Grub Street

always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book

merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible! Now she spoke less frequently on such subjects. Her interests were becoming more personal; she liked to hear details of the success of popular authors - about their wives or husbands, as the case might be, their arrangements with publishers, their methods of work. The gossip columns of literary

r features had become rather too cold and decided. At one moment it seemed to her that she heard a sound in the bedroom - the doors were purposely left ajar - and her head turned quickly to listen, the look in her eyes instant

or, perhaps, to the other flat on the topmost landing. But the final pause was in this di

d with the greeting of frank friendship. His inquiries were in

wake W

he exclaimed in subdued tone

, y

onday. 'How close it is in here! I suppose the roof gets so heated during the day. Glorious

hink

the study, and glanced about as if he expected to se

' said Amy as, after listening for a

e faculties. But whose acquain

n th

ere staying at John Yule's, and I saw some

u speak

Reardon's name. But of course it didn't matter in the least. She inquired about you with

laug

from your fertile in

e your natural question concerning her? Do

at she did. She had a good

'Well, I shouldn't wonder if most people called her a trifle plain even now; and ye

ho

grew long. Curly all over. Looks uncommonly well, I assure you. She has a capital head. Odd girl; very

d understood that

by sight quite well - had seen her at the Reading-room. She's the kind of girl that gets into on

so,' remarked Amy,

of course. They didn't invite m

d your acquaintance with t

l events, she promi

m inquiringly, i

romise

I mean - is a remarkable man; but I think he regarded me as

ook he

prog

ally ill. He must go away before the fine weather is over. Do per

must work savagely. But can't you all manage

g, "What does a pound or two matter?" - but

half-sovereign to the waiter when he has dined himself into good humour! But I tell you

Amy sat looki

,' she said at length,

eally

is knees. He was scrutinising her face, and Amy, conscious

stion for him at present. He writes so slowly, and is so fastidious. It wo

mist" weak?' Jasper

rthy of Edwin; I don

opinion was. Yes, he ought

ter door. Jasper lay back in his chair and waited with a smi

yes of one who has been in darkness; he spoke in a voice of genial welco

of his conversation with Amy. As he did so, the latter withd

me supper with

I will,

n a low tone because of the proximity of the bedchamber in which lay the sleeping child.

but, by-the-bye, have you heard

ied Reardon, his face lighting u

ife. 'I thought it too good to be true

e moment, Reardon became a new man in his e

lling me all about this same editor, who rejoices in the name of Fadge. Your uncle, Mrs Reardon, declares that Fadge is the most malicious man in the literary profession; though that's saying such a very great deal - well, never mind! Of course I was delighted to go and meet Fadge. At Barlow's I found the queerest collection of people, most of them women of the inkiest description. The great Fadge himself surprised me; I expected to see a gaunt, bilious man, and he

Reardon to Amy with a sm

ar it!' said Rea

en noted; the admirable qualities of my style have drawn attention; I'm looked upon as one of the coming men! Thanks, I confess, in some measure, to old Barlow; he seems to have amused himself with cracking me up to all and sundry. That last thing of

magazine to be c

think I have undertaken to do, for a start? A paper consisting of sketches of typical readers of each of the principal daily and weekly papers. A deuced good idea, you know - my own, of course - but deucedly hard to carry out. I shall rise to the occasion

ith awe and envy,' said Reardon. 'I could no mor

years, just sauntering about, reading nothing but periodicals, making acquaintance with loafers of every description. The truth is, I have been collecting ideas, and ideas that are convertible into coin of the realm, my boy; I have th

n?' inquired Reardon, when he had rece

t the two reviews, and I was almost afraid to smile whilst Fadge was talking with

know who edit

cure are going about. But I have still something else to t

ow

, I found him at home, and had a long practical talk with him. I wanted to find out the state of the market as to such wares as Jolly and Monk dispose of. He gave me some very useful hints, and the result was that I went off this morning and saw Monk himself - no Jolly exists at present. "Mr Monk," I began, in my blandest tone - you know it - "I am requested to call upon you by a lady

sters really begun such

f anecdotes of prominent statesmen. I myself shall write the specimen chapter, and send it to the girls to show them what I propose. I shouldn't wond

arkable, all of a s

here is a tide" - to quote somethin

and future prospects, led the way back to the sitting-room. Not very long after this, Amy left the two friends to their pipes; she was anxious

k fast,' began Jasper, when the

es

serious, I shoul

ed Reardon, i

n this way. Would it, or wouldn't it, b

the opportunity were offered. Do something I

. What is

needn't run to more than about two hundred a

thing rather sensational. Couldn't we invent a good title - somethin

but the scorn was directed rat

ry,' he

inds on the problem for a few min

? Suggests all sorts of things, both to the vulgar and the

does it sugg

sterious girls or w

nce. Reardon's face was tha

hich was checked by a huskiness in his throat, 'to explain to myself

ow

England. The stage I had then reached was the result of a slow and elaborate building up; I could look back and see the processes by which I had grown from the boy who was a mere bookworm to the man who had all but succeeded as a novelist. It was a perfectly natural, sober development. But in the last two years and a half I can distinguish no order. In living thro

, in a monotonous voice, and witho

losophical truth in all this. All the same, it's a great

Disaster may end by driving me out of my wits, but

ou think it was a mistake to

self I often thought with disgust of the kind of work I had been doing; my novels seemed vapid stuff so wretchedly and shallowly modern. If I had had the means, I should have devoted myself to the life of a scholar. That, I quite believe, is my natural life; it's only the influence of recent circumstances that ha

p suddenly,

, of course, don't misunderstand me

e you to mean th

d died before my marriage-day. Then Amy would have been saved. The Philistines are right: a man has no business to marry unless he has a secure

u seriously doubt whether you wi

I doubt it,' replied Re

y. In your position I should w

I am overcome by it. My nature is feeble and luxurious. I nev

got the work at

te a letter, and chan

e, Reardon, is that

e: do you think I might possibly get any kind of stated work to do?

last man to have anythi

my publishers, c

ould simply say: Write a

e's no hel

to write short stories,

couple of hundred pounds at least. Even if I could finish a three-volume book, I doubt if

ing better that you can devise; but get it done, so many pages a day. If I go ahead as I begin to think I shall, I shall soon be able to assure you good

ubbi

l get on pretty well together. Alfred Yule hates the man fiercely, for some reason or ot

O

e girl. Wouldn't do, you know. I must marry

ettled poi

at all likely to m

ule will involve me in his savage feeling. You see how

more about his own. Talk was mere vanity and vexation of spirit, for the spring of his volition seemed to be brok