"I admire talent in any form," said Tom Franks; "it will be inserted, of course. People who want smart things will like it, I am sure. Believe me, you are mistaken; it will do good, not harm."
"It may do good from a financial point of view: doubtless it will," said Mr. Anderson; "but I wish the girl who has those great abilities would turn them to a higher form of expression. She might do great things then, and move the world in a right way."
"I grant you that the whole thing is pessimistic," said Franks; "but its cleverness redeems it. It will call attention, and the next story by Miss Aylmer which appears in the Argonaut will be more appreciated than her last."
"See that that story appears in the next number," said his chief to Franks, and the young man left the room.
Florence received in due time a proof of her paper for correction. There was little alteration, however, needed in Bertha's masterly essay; but Florence was now obliged to read it carefully, and her heart stood still once or twice as she read the expressions which she herself was supposed to have given birth to. She had just finished correcting the proofs when Edith Franks came into the room.
"I have just seen Tom," she said; "he is delighted with your essay. Is that it? Have you corrected it? May I look through it?"
"I would much rather you did not read it, Edith."
"What nonsense! It is to be published, and I shall see it then."
"Well, read it, if you must, when it is in the paper; only I would rather you didn't read it at all."
"What do you mean?"