I agreed with her it
was as well; the old fellow isn't badly off; and he may forgive
her for running away, though he's under his wife's thumb, it
appears. I had a note yesterday. She had gone to a friend's house
for the first day. I hoped to have heard again this morning--must
to-morrow, in any case. I live, as you may imagine, in wild
excitement. Of course, if the old man stumps up a wedding
present, all the better. But I don't care; we'll make a living
somehow. What do you think I'm writing just now? An author's
Guide. You know the kind of thing; they sell splendidly. Of
course I shall make it a good advertisement of my business. Then
I have a splendid idea. I'm going to advertise: "Novel-writing
taught in ten lessons!" What do you think of that? No swindle;
not a bit of it. I am quite capable of giving the ordinary man or
woman ten very useful lessons. I've been working out the scheme;
it would amuse you vastly, Reardon. The first lesson deals with
the question of subjects, local colour--that kind of thing. I
gravely advise people, if they possibly can, to write of the
wealthy middle class; that's the popular subject, you know.
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