A silence followed.
"Harry, you must come up with your story next time—positively," said Mr. Armstrong at length.
"I don't think I can. I cannot undertake to do so, at all events."
"Then what is to be done?—I have it. Lizzie, my dear, you have got that story you wrote once for a Christmas paper, have you not?"
"Yes, I have, Ralph; but that is far too slight a thing to be worth reading here."
"It will do at least to give Harry a chance for his. I mustn't praise it 'afore fowk,' you know."
"But it was never quite finished—at least so people said."
"Well, you can finish it to-morrow well enough."
"I haven't time."
"You needn't be working at that—all day long and every day. There is no such hurry."