It seemed to him
perfectly intelligible that Reardon, sinking into literary
insignificance, should grow cool to a man entering upon a
successful career; the vein of cynicism in Jasper enabled him to
pardon a weakness of this kind, which in some measure flattered
him. But he both liked and respected Reardon, and at present he
was in the mood to give expression to his warmer feelings.
'Your book is announced, I see,' he said with an accent of
pleasure, as soon as he had seated himself.
'I didn't know it.'
'Yes. "New novel by the author of 'On Neutral Ground.'" Down for
the sixteenth of April. And I have a proposal to make about it.
Will you let me ask Fadge to have it noticed in "Books of the
Month," in the May Current?'
'I strongly advise you to let it take its chance. The book isn't
worth special notice, and whoever undertook to review it for
Fadge would either have to lie, or stultify the magazine.'
Jasper turned to Amy.
'Now what is to be done with a man like this? What is one to say
to him, Mrs Reardon?'
'Edwin dislikes the book,' Amy replied, carelessly.
Pages:
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304