“No; I hardly mean that.”
“I am afraid then I do not understand you.”
“Do you never write anything but what you publish?”
“Publish! I never publish! What made you think of such a thing?”
“That you know so much about it, ma'am.”
“I know people connected with the papers, and thought it might encourage you to see something in print. The newspapers publish so many poems now!”
“I wish it hadn't been just that one my mother gave you!”
“Why?”
“For one thing, it is not finished—as you will see when you read it more carefully.”
“I did see a line I thought hardly rhythmical, but—”