The herald., 1894-09-23
A CHANGED CRITIC.

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 tho best known litterateurs in
London and brilliant conversation
ist, his tongue could be as 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 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 a modern. ! Studying his face as
he lounged by the window, his hands in
the pockets of his smoking jacket, one
could seq thas 10 had lively sense of
humor combined with his other charac-
teristics and understood the interest his
personality aroused.
Presently q servant brought him a
visiting card on salver.
1.-THE lady would be obliged il you
would grant her an interview. SIR
Lady Hilyard, +" muttered Everdene,
reading the inscription. 81 can't recall
the name. Bother the womanl What
does she want? However, ask her to
come up, Blake. !"
When she entered, a fair, elegant
woman Of perhaps 20, in an irreproach-
able Parisian toilet, he was still more
convinced that he had not the privilege
of her acquaintance.
"NIr. Aubrey Everdene?" she queried.
Mr. Everdcne bowed.
pray take seat, madame.
NO." she said. II have come to
quarrel with you, and J. don't sit down
Ia the houses Of my enemiesW
''To quarrel with me!' His eyebrows
went up. Tho thought came to him that
his visitor was not in her right mind.
eyes. Perhaps I had better explain
myself at onco. am the author of
fashion and Footlights. +"
Mr.. Evertiene, standing perforce be-
cause she would, pulled his mustache,
while the fair stranger tapped her No.
8shoe on the carpet with impatience
and looked pitchforlrs and daggers.
"sFashion and Footlights, &" no 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.
"Here it is. Reviewed it in The Cen
turion, didn't I?''
mo she said, ''you hanged and
quartered it'll"
''I am sorry. May I ask how you
found out that was the oulprit?"
"Oh, by accident. It's long story
and unimportant, since you don't deny
the imputation. Now, Mr.. Everdene, l
know it is very impertinent Of me, a
stranger, to come to your private ad
dress and worry you. am doing very
unusual thing, / am afraid, and Mrs.
Grundy would be Mortified But fools
rush in, you know, and widows are
privileged. You must have little pa
tience with me beoause"-for the first
time her lips relaxed, and she smiled
smile that was sweetness ITSELF well,
just because I'm a 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 effort?"
"No," he said bluntly; IT always
give my true opinion of things, and
consider your book had many faults"
If she had been man. he would have
said, 81 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.
'Of course, l admit that there are
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 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
BULL CPpOSlto HcI-bilo "a -. ". VI vi
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.
81 should very much like to know, F."
sho said, what you think Of my COM
ing here?"
II think you are plucky-yes, and
recl1lessly unconventional "
Candid, at any ratel And / like
that F" She looked up. "Now for the
first Indictment on the list, Mr.. Ever
dene. You accuse me of improbability.
deny it,
His manner bordered ON preoccupa-
tion. In truth, he was thinking what
wonderful lashes she had, and how be-
coming flush of excitement could be
to clear, pale skin.
"You assert, she continued warmlv.
:s'that it is ridiculous to suppose that q
man al% woman OF the world could fall
in love at first sight, as make my hero
and heroine do. and that such proceed.
/. ings are limited to boys and girls in