Now the answer has come. Mr. Willis offers me thirty pounds for the first edition of 2000 copies: the copyright after that remaining in my hands. He says the story seems "interesting and well written," and he "hopes it may have a fairly good circulation."
At all events, the heroine is not too disagreeable this time!
I have written to accept the offer: and I do feel very happy about it.
It has been desperately hot weather lately: and I wanted so much to get it done, that I have been copying at the rate of forty to seventy MS. pages a day. But it was worth while. And I am only just in time for the autumn.
But I can see the good of failures,—even coming one after another. A year ago I was getting too confident, and perhaps careless. I think I have learnt a lesson for life.
August 15. Wednesday.—Plans seem settling into shape. About the middle of September the Romillys all come south; and early in October the double wedding will, it is hoped, take place. How droll to think of Thyrza as "Lady Denham!"
Miss Con is to be married from Glynde House; and perhaps her sister may be present. Not Mr. Smyth, for he never goes anywhere. He is too fat.
And I am to be one of Miss Con's bridesmaids!
Miss Con writes so brightly. She seems full of happiness. Her knee is almost well again, which is a great comfort.
She has been very busy lately, finding a situation for Miss Millington, as companion to an old lady in Bath, and also making arrangements about a home for the younger sister.