“Yes,” answered Mr. Snodgrass. “Del keeps a fine place, but I seldom go there. In a small place like this you are more apt to meet men and women of brains. One evening I met here Gloriana Podd, the great poetess. Of course you have heard of her?”
“I am not sure that I have.”
“She writes for several of the popular weeklies, and I am told that her poems are sometimes copied in the London papers. I am surprised that you haven’t heard of her.”
“My stepfather didn’t take any weekly papers. He thought too much of his money.”
“Then I presume you had never heard of me.”
Ben acknowledged that he had not.
“You were evidently buried in the country. Now that you are in a great metropolis you will live—and learn.”
“I hope so.”
“Of course I will do all I can for you. I will introduce you to our editor at any time.”
“Thank you, but I will wait a little. I think he would not care to meet a boy.”