about them, and so grow something rational in their demands."
At last Curl descended from his stool, and drew a chair towards Walter. Dividing his looks between him and the door, he began:—
"I having been looking at your pamphlet, and shewing it, but I mention no names. I don't see the use of names, for my part, unless it be to put in asterisks. It is—yes—very, indeed."
"What!" exclaimed Walter.
"Yes, extremely so," replied Curl.
"You think it, then, clever," returned the anxious listener.
"Why, my good young friend," exclaimed the publisher, glancing suspiciously at the door, "you would not have me tell an author to his face that his works were not clever? You are too irritable a race for that!"
"But do you think that it will suit you?" asked Maynard.
"Why, no—no—yes, perhaps; but we must talk a little about it. You reason too
