Part 12 (2/2)

This matter was discussed for the next ten minutes, as the friends walked along toward the office of Cutt & Slashem.

”I think you are foolish to delay so long introducing him to her,” said Gouger, finally. ”I don't see that you are making any progress whatever.”

”Ah, but I am,” replied Weil. ”I am making both of them more and more anxious for the meeting. s.h.i.+rley walks the street feverishly impatient, and I have no doubt mutters her name in his dreams. Millicent talks about her ideal of manly beauty. When they get together failure will be impossible.”

Mr. Gouger laughed at the idea that Roseleaf was ”feverishly impatient”

to meet any girl, and ventured to predict that the young man would have to be put in irons to get him to the residence of the Ferns when the time came; or at least to keep him there.

”Just the point I am working on,” replied Weil. ”Under ordinary circ.u.mstances I would have to handcuff his wrists to mine, but I am making such a strong impression on his imagination that he is crazy to go. And once she gets him under her influence--I tell you, Lawrence, she is no ordinary girl.”

”She certainly does not write like one,” smiled the critic, ”either in her subject or her English. You may make something of him--I rather think you will--but not of her. Her ideas are wild, and her realism a little too p.r.o.nounced even for the present age.”

”She has truth on her side, you admit,” said Archie.

”Yes, to a remarkable degree.”

”Well, that ought to be something, if Boggs' estimate of the modern liar is correct. s.h.i.+rley will help her to style, give her his own, if necessary. I am going to land both of these fish, if only to spite you, Lawrence. You tossed them away with that fine contempt of yours, and you will weep hot tears for it before you die.”

At the door of Cutt & Slashem's they met the two members of that firm, who paused to say a word to Mr. Gouger. They were anxious for a new book to bring out as soon as possible, and were regretting with him that nothing worth publis.h.i.+ng seemed to present itself.

”You may strain matters, it necessary,” said Mr. Cutt. ”We can't keep up on reprints forever. I hope you made no mistake in rejecting that book of Mrs. Hotbox. I hear it is selling well.”

Mr. Gouger's face was, as ever, immovable before his employers.

”What 'Fire and Brimstone?'” he inquired. ”The authorities seized the entire edition this morning.”

Mr. Cutt looked at Mr. Slashem, with a startled expression.

”In that case, I am glad we escaped it,” he said. ”We shouldn't like that sort of an affair, of course.”

Mr. Weil, who knew both the gentlemen well, inquired what they thought of Mrs. Hotbox's production.

”I have never seen it,” said Mr. Slashem.

”Nor I,” said Mr. Cutt.

The partners disappeared into the counting-room, where they had an interview with a binder who had offered to do their work at one-tenth of a cent a hundred copies less than the concern with which they were then dealing. Archie said good-by to Gouger, and went off to find Roseleaf, with whom he had engaged to take, later in the day, a ride through the Park.

”How soon am I to see your paragon?” sighed the young man, as they were making the grand round of that famous drive.

”Within a week, I hope. Are you getting uneasy?”

”I am getting lonesome,” was the gloomy reply. ”And I want to begin work.”

”Well, it will soon pa.s.s now. To-morrow evening I am to hear another installment of her novel. Two more sittings after that will finish it, I should say. And the next thing will be--you. But have you seen no one else in all this time that you care for?”

The young man looked aimlessly at the fleecy clouds that hung low on the horizon.

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