"Don't you think it is worth being paid for, if it is worth printing?" he persisted.
"Upon that principle, we should feel obliged to pay for poetry," said the editor.
"Oh," said Oscar, "poets don't need money. They live on flowers and dew-drops."
The editor smiled.
"You think prose-writers require something more substantial?"
"Yes, sir."
"I will tell you how the matter stands," said the editor. "Mr. Walton is a beginner. He has his reputation to make. When it is made he will be worth a fair price to me, or any of my brother editors."
"I see," said Oscar; "but his story must be worth something. It will fill up two columns. If you didn't print it, you would have to pay somebody for writing these two columns."
"You have some reason in what you say. Still our ordinary rule is based on justice. A distinction should be made between new contributors and old favorites."
"Yes, sir. Pay the first smaller sums."