"Then it seems to me," said Phaeton, "you might look upon it cheerfully as only so much drudge-work done to purchase leisure and opportunity for the work you delight in. You know a great many famous men have been obliged to get through the world in that way."
"Yes, cheer up," said Monkey Roe. "Look at us: we're having lots of fun over drudgier work than yours. Come along with us, and we'll make one circus of the whole thing—two entertainments under one canvas, as the bills say. Holman has plenty of help, so I'll be your assistant."
And he took the brush and paste-bucket, while Jimmy still carried the bills, and we all moved on together.
As Jimmy walked beside the machine, he and Holman seemed to resume some former conversation.
"Can't you make up your mind to do it, if I double the price?" said Holman.
"On the contrary," said Jimmy, "I've made up my mind that I won't do it at any price."
"Why not?" asked Holman.
"For two reasons," answered Jimmy. "One is, that I don't think it's exactly honest to write such things for anybody else to pass off as his own."
"And the other?" said Holman.
"The other is," said Jimmy, speaking much lower, but still so that I who was next to him could hear, "and I may as well tell you plainly, Isaac,—the other is, that I have some hopes in that direction myself, and if I write anything more for her, I'll send it as my own."