"Don't let that disturb you. I fancy your politics are of no importance. It's your journalistic knowledge that's wanted. To make up the paper, arrange the book reviews, write some of them—the paragraphs and so forth. Pilkington is a society fellow who takes life easily, and wants a competent sub. That's about the situation, I should say. I believe Lord Dingleton finances the paper as a hobby."
"In any case, it would mean a footing in London, and that is all I want."
"I am confident you'll suit, and although I advise you not to build too much on London, I believe it's worth having a try at—if only to knock on the head your romantic notions of life there. When will you go?"
"To-morrow; first train; back in the evening. Nobody the wiser if it doesn't come off."
But it did; and for good or ill, with scarce a thought of Flo, Henry returned to Laysford engaged as assistant-editor of the Watchman, on the understanding that he would start as soon as he could possibly get away from the Leader. The gentleman then assisting Mr. Pilkington was a distinguished Oxford man, oozing learning at every pore, but as incompetent a journalist as one would meet within the radius of Newspaperland.
CHAPTER XVIII
IN LONDON TOWN
The directors of the Leader were more gracious about his resignation than Henry had expected. Evidently, although quite satisfied with his work, they did not apprehend any insurmountable difficulty in securing a successor. The manager hinted (after Henry's going was certain) that rather than have had the trouble of changing editors, they might even have arranged to advance his salary—supreme proof that he had not been without his merits in the eyes of his employers. Mr Jones, by virtue of his superior years, took leave to warn him of the gravity of the step he was taking, and assured him that at £350 a year in London he would be no better off than he was with £100 less in Laysford. For one brief moment Flo's desire that he should stay passed through his mind, but in his heart he knew that it was not entirely a matter of money, and he set his teeth to "Now or never."