But fancy holding forth on an author's style after reading him laboriously with a dictionary!
However, I must do my best; and in my more hopeful moments I see the conversation going like this:—
"Well?"
"Oh, wonderful." (With emotion) "Really wonderful."
"You see them all there?"
"Yes, yes. It's really—wonderful. MEREDITH—I mean—well, it's simply—(after a pause) wonderful."
"You see MEREDITH there most?"
"Y—yes. Sometimes. And then sometimes I—I don't" (with truth). "It's difficult to say. Sometimes I—er—SHAW—er—well, it's ——" (with a gesture somewhat Gallic) "How can I put it?"
"Not THACKERAY at all?" he says, watching me eagerly.
I decide to risk it.