The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1894-08-30
A CHANGED CRITIC.

pen across the last sheet, and now the
MSS lay ready for the post among the
debris of printers proofs, new novels
awaiting review, etc., with which the
writing table was strewed.
One of the best known litterateurs in
London and a brilliant conversation
list, his tongue could be as scathing as
his pen, and it was said of him, with
regard to the latter weapon of warfare,
THAI in half dozen polished sentences
he could do more toward damning a
book than any two Of his compeers. A
big, loosely made man was Mr.. Everdene,
with shrewd gray eyes and the pessim-
ism of modern. Studying his face as
he lounged by the window, his hands in
the pockets Of his smoking jacket, one
could see that he had a lively sense Of
humor combined with his other charac-
teristics and understood the interest his
personality aroused.
Presently a servant brought him
visiting card on a salver.
'EThe lady would be obliged if you
would grant her an interview, SIR
LADY Hilyard, muttered Everdene,
reading the inscription. 'Ican't recall
the name Bother the woman! What
does she want? However, ask her to
come up Blake.
When she entered, fair, elegant
woman Of perhaps 25, in an irreproach-
able Partisan toilet, he was still more
convinced that he had not the privilege
of her acquaintance.
''Mr. Aubrey Everdene?" she queried.
Mr.. Everdene bowed.
"Pray take seat, madame.
NO." she said. II have come to
quarrel with you, and I don't sit down
in the houses Of my enemies!''
''To quarrel with me!'' His eyebrows
went up. The thought came to him that
his visitor was not in her right mind.
, eyes. Perhaps I had better explain
myself at once. I am the author Of
Fashion and Footlights.
Mr.. Everdene, standing perforce be-
cause she would, pulled his mustache,
while the fair stranger tapped her No.
8 shoe on the carpet with impatience
and looked pitchforks and daggers.
"'Fashion and Footlights, he re-.
flected aloud. "'Fashion and Foot
lights Ha!''
Comprehension stole over his face and
with it slight amusement. He f1shed
among a pile of volumes and brought
out three bound with an elegance des-
tined to win the hearts of suburban cir
culating libraries.
"Here it is Reviewed it in The Gen.
turion, didn't I?''
"No," she said, ''you hanged and
quartered it!''
II am sorry. May I ask how you
found out that was the culprit?'' -'>'
"Oh, by accident. It's long story
and unimportant, since you don't deny
the imputation. Now, Mr.. Everdene, I
know it is very impertinent Of me, a
stranger, to come to your private adj
dress and worry you. am doing very
thing, I am afraid, and Mrs.
Grundy would be Mortified. But fools
rush in,' you know, and widows are
You must have little pa
thence with me because''-for the first
time her lips relaxed, and she smiled a
smile that was sweetness itself-.'well,
Just because I'm woman and you re a
gentleman. Acknowledge the truth,
now, on your honor. Don't you think
you were unnecessarily harsh to my
poor little literary etfort?"
"No," he said bluntly; II always
give my true opinion Of things, and
consider your book had many faults"
If she had been man, he would have
said, II thought it was - bad, " with
the brusqueness Of conviction and prob
ably declined to discuss the matter, but
to lady it was impossible to be rude
He regarded her absurdly unconvention-
al presence with tolerant kindness.
ssOf course, admit that there are
faults, but upon one or two points in
your criticism ! cannot agree with you.
should very much like to discuss them
with you. May I?'' .-s5
Certainly" His mouth was twitch-
ing under his heavy mustache. "But
don't you think, pending the verdict,
that you had better sit down? You will
be fatigued. If you'll permit me to
wheel this armchair nearer the fire for
you-so!' ...<
Having carefully arranged it so that
she should face the light, he seated him
self opposite her-the A. B. c. of di-
plomacy, but she did not appear to no.
tice it. She was drawing arabesques on
the carpet with the point of her ivory
handled umbrella.
IT should very much like to know"
she said, "whata you think of my COM
ing here?''
II think you are plucky-yes, and
recklessly unconventional.
Candid, at any rate! And I like
that. - She looked up. "Now for the
first Indictment on the list, Mr.. Ever
dene. You accuse me of improbability.
I deny it. s-... r ..s-
His manner bordered on preoccupa-