"Brettan. Am I in too much of a hurry?"
"Well, you have to be patient, you know, with possible subscribers. If you rush, they will, too, and the easiest reply to give in a hurry is 'No.' I'm not sure about sending you out with the Ency.; after a while, perhaps! How would you like trying a new work that has never been canvassed, for a beginning?"
"Would it be better?"
"Yes; there's less in it to learn, and you needn't be afraid of hearing, 'Oh, I have one already!'"
"I didn't think of that. What is it, Mr. Collins?"
He touched a bell, and told the boy to bring in a specimen of the Album.
"Four half-volumes at twelve and sixpence each," he said, turning to her, "The Album of Inventions. It gives the history of all the principal inventions, with a brief biography of the inventors. You want to know who invented the watch—look it up under W; the telephone—turn to T. It's a history of the progress of science and civilisation. 'The origin of the inventions, and the voids they fill,' that's the idea. Ah, here it is! Now look at that, and tell me if you think you could do any good with it."
She took a slim crimson-bound book from its case, and glanced through it.
"Oh, I certainly think I could," she said; "I should like to try, anyhow."
"Very well, you shall be the first agent to canvass the Album for us."