The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-29
A CHANGED CRITIC.

to magazine article with a dash of the
pen across the last sheet, and now the
MSS. lay ready for the post among the
debris Of printers proofs. now novels
awaiting review, ETC., with which the
writing table was strewed
One of the best known litterateurs in
London and brilliant conversation
list, his tongue could be Us scathing as
his pen, and it was said of him, with
regard to the latter weapon of warfare,
that in half dozen polished sentences
he could do more toward damning
book than any two Of his compeers. A
big, loosely mado man was Mr.. Everdene.
with shrewd gray eyes and the. pessim-
ism of modern. Studying his faco as
he lounged by the window, his hands in
tho pockets of his smoking Jacket, one
could see that he had lively sense of
humor combined with his other oharac-
terlstics and understood the interest his
personality aroused.
Presently servant brought him "a
visiting card on a salver
"The lady would be obliged if you
would grant her an interview, sir. {"
Lady Hilyard, muttered Everdene,
reading the inscription. II can'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 irrcproach-
able Partisan toilet, he was still more
convinced that ho had not the privilege
of her aCOuaintance
Mr.. Aubrey Everdene?" she Queried.
Mr.. Evcrdcne bowed
Pray take n seat, madame"
mo" she said. II have como to
quarrel with you, and don't sit down
In tho houses of my encmicsl'
ITO quarrel with mel" His eyebrows
went up. The thought came to him that
his visitor was not in her right mind.
Eyes. Perhaps had better explain
myself at once. 1 am the author of
Fashion and Footlights. -
MIR. Everdene, standing perforce be-
cause she would, pulled his mustache.
while the fair stranger tapped her No.
8 shoe OH the carpet with impatience
and looked pitohforks and daggers.
Fashion and Footlights, )" he re-
flected aloud. Fashion and Foot
lights. Hal"
Comprehension stole over his face and
with it slight amusement. He fished
among pile of volumes and brought
out three bound with an elegance des-
tined to win the hearts Of suburban cir
culating libraries.
"Hcre it is. Reviewed it in The Cen
turion, didn't I?''
No" she said, ''you hanged and
quartered it!'
II am sorry. May 1 ask how you
found out that was tho culprit?''
"Oh, by accident It's n long story
and unimportant, since you don't deny
the imputation- Now, Mr. Everdene, I
know it is very impertinent of me,
stranger, to come to your private ad-
dress and worry you. I am doing very
unusual thing, I am afraid, and Mrs.
Grundy would be mortified But fools
rush in, you know, and widows are
privileged. You must have little pa
thence with me because''-for the first
timo her lips relaxed, and sho smiled
smile that was sweetness itself-"well,
just because I'm n woman and you re
gentleman. Acknowledge the truth,
now, on your honor. Don't you think
you were unnecessarily harsh to my
poor little literary effort?'
NO, he said bluntly; II always
give my true opinion of things, and 1
consider your book had many faults
Ii she had been q man, he would have
said, II thought it was - bad, ;" with
tho brusqueness of conviction and prob
ably declined to discuss the matter, but
to lady it was impossible to be rude.
He regarded her absurdly unoonvention-
oil presence with tolerant kindness
"Of course, admit that there arc
faults, but upon one or two points in
your criticism I cannot agree with you.
should very much like to discuss them
with you. May I?''
Certainly" His mouth was witch
ing under his heavy mustaohe 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-soi''
Having carefully arranged 1t 80 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
II should very much like to know"
she said, what you think Of my COM
ing here?''
Il think you are pluoky-yes, and
recklessly unconventional.
Candid, at any ratei And I like
that. 4" She looked up. "Now for the
first indictment on the list Mr.. Ever
dene. You accuse me of improbability
a