P. Dear Sir—We have read carefully the MSS. of your very interesting story—
Miss B. What a fib!
P. Miss Bodman, you will please not interrupt—“The Governor’s Daughter.” We regret that it is not exactly suited to our present needs. Thanking you for the opportunity of reading your very original book we are, Very respectfully, Greathead & Wright. Now for that irrepressible poet, Mr. Ralph Hyde-Arlington.
Miss B. I hope you are not going to reject him.
P. I should say rather. Why not?
Miss B. Some of his poems are just lovely.
P. Stuff! Nothing but jingle!
Miss B. Quite the contrary. His “Lines to a Dead Canary” are full of pathos and sentiment.
P. Well, I admit that Hyde-Arlington’s lines have a certain go about them suited to these times when ideas are superfluous in literature.
Miss B. (With sentiment.) What is your ideal of him, Mr. Powers.