He hoped it would be understood that, in declining, he by
no means expressed an adverse judgment on the story itself &c.
'It doesn't surprise me,' said Reardon. 'I believe he is quite
right. The thing is too empty to please the better kind of
readers, yet not vulgar enough to please the worse.'
'But you'll try someone else?'
'I don't think it's much use.'
They sat opposite each other, and kept silence. Jedwood's letter
slipped from Amy's lap to the ground.
'So,' said Reardon, presently, 'I don't see how our plan is to be
carried out.'
'Oh, it must be!'
'But how?'
'You'll get seven or eight pounds from The Wayside. And--hadn't
we better sell the furniture, instead of--'
His look checked her.
'It seems to me, Amy, that your one desire is to get away from
me, on whatever terms.'
'Don't begin that over again!' she exclaimed, fretfully. 'If you
don't believe what I say--'
They were both in a state of intolerable nervous tension. Their
voices quivered, and their eyes had an unnatural brightness.
'If we sell the furniture,' pursued Reardon, 'that means you'll
never come back to me.
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