The yacht owner had an office on State Street; he gave me explicit directions where to find it.
Estelle’s dreaded art-editor was a pleasant-faced woman, with a keen glance. She was reinforced by a very bushy-haired man with a “diminishing glass,” which he used to see how the drawings would “come down.” It took me some time to understand that he meant to see how they would look when reproduced for book illustrations.
She discovered all the good points in the drawings and he all the bad ones. Doubtless they each served a purpose in the welfare of the magazine, but when I saw the flush on Estelle’s face grow hotter and hotter I wanted to do something mean and revengeful to him.
Yet he was the one, after all, who suggested that Estelle should “submit” a design for the new cover that the magazine was to have. He agreed at last, without cavil, to his associate’s assertion that Estelle’s bunchy babies were original and altogether charming, and he produced the manuscript of a jingle and a story and asked her to try her hand at illustrating them. If the illustrations were satisfactory a price which he named would be paid for them.
Now the price was not at all in proportion to the price of sage cheese and sausages, but it sounded large to Estelle, who had been having forced upon her the conviction that they were worthless. She looked breathlessly delighted, as if she had stumbled upon a gold mine, and I felt my business bump expand.
“It seems a small price,” I said stiffly, “but I suppose if she is successful she will be paid more for the next drawings.”
“We have many young artists who are ready to work for less,” said the lady editor in a firm, but gentle voice.
Out in the narrow passageway Alice Yorke and I both hugged Estelle, by way of congratulation. Octavia was too dignified for such demonstrations but her eyes were full of tears.
“It is only for names that great prices are paid,” I said sagely. “It was only those who had heard of Groundnut Hill farm products who would have my sausages.”
“I am not sorry, Bathsheba, that you said the price wasn’t enough. I think it is too small,” said Estelle.