Part 43 (2/2)
”Might as well go and get it over,” he remarked ungraciously. He telephoned Strong his acceptance, and asked if he might meet him at the restaurant. He did not wish Strong to know the new address. He would keep his struggle and his poverty to himself. That was certain.
The two men met at a roof garden, each determined to suppress his instinctive dislike of the other because of Bambi. They found a table, and after a short period of stiffness they fell into easy talk of books and plays and men.
”How do you like New York? I remember you confessed to hating cities when I saw you.”
”I still hate cities, but I am getting a new point of view about it all.”
”It's a great school.”
”So it is.”
”Is Mrs. Jocelyn well, and the Professor?”
”Yes, thank you.”
”It is some time since you were home?”
”Yes.”
”I had a note from Mrs. Jocelyn a few days ago.”
”Did you?”
”I wonder if you would let me see your 'Songs of the Street,' she told me about?”
”She spoke of them to you?”
”In the highest terms. Said she had no idea of your plans in regard to them, but that the poems were strong and true.”
”I am glad she liked them.”
”Would you consider letting me have them for the magazine if they seemed to fit our needs?”
”You can look them over, if you like. They won't fit, though. They'll stick out like a sore thumb. The only editor I showed them to said they weren't prose, and they weren't poetry, and, besides, he didn't like them.”
”Mail them to me to-night when you go home. Better still, bring them in.”
Jarvis drew out an envelope that he pushed across the table to Strong.
”Look them over now,” he said.
Strong lifted his brows slightly, but took the proffered pages and began to read. While his host was so busied, Jarvis smoked a good cigar, the first in months, and enjoyed it. He didn't care whether Strong liked them or not. Strong looked up suddenly.
”I'll take these, Jocelyn. What do you want for them?”
”Oh, I don't know. What are they worth to you?”
”I'll pay two hundred dollars for them. Is that satisfactory?”
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