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164
ETHEL CHURCHILL.

advancing money to the young writer commencing business; it encourages him, shews him what he may do; and, moreover, he is far the most anxious of the two to see himself in print. But when he publishes and succeeds, he fancies all money will be made as easily as he made the first; he begins to think much of his trouble, and has used up his first stock of ideas. Then I decline advancing money, because it is only want that makes him work. You are in the second stage!"

Walter coloured a yet deeper crimson; he was half inclined to throw papers and publisher out of the window, which was temptingly open. A moment passed, and he was pale as before: he felt that he had neither right nor cause for complaint, his own folly was alone to blame. "Well," said he, with a forced smile, "I, as a writer of moral essays and pamphlets for the 'good of my country,' ought not to object to principles; they certainly do turn a sentence admirably: but let us talk of something else. I am thinking of writing a comedy: 'The