r her influence, and what was still
uncouth or clumsy she learned to bear with.

Another resource to lighten the weight of anxiety and disappointment
was found in Peggy's extraordinary gift in finding out distressed
people, which even in her new residence, did not desert her. Jane, who
had been accustomed to put her hand in her purse for the benefit of
Peggy's proteges, felt at first very grieved that she had nothing to
give, but she learned that a great deal of good can be done with very
little money, and satisfied herself by giving sympathy, personal
services, and advice. It was astonishing what good advice she gave to
other people for bettering their prospects, while she seemed quite
unable to do anything for herself. But so long as Elsie was busy and
hopeful with her poems, Jane could not bear to leave her; if they
failed, they must try what they could do separately. In the meantime,
she was more disposed to try classes than anything else, for her
experience with the Lowries proved to her that she could teach clever
children, at any rate, with success; but as she could not get the
promise of any pupils of the rank and circumstances that could make
them pay, she hesitated about incurring any risk.

Elsie had completed poems sufficient to fill a small volume before her
sister had seen any opening for herself. It was with some strong
agitation on Jane's part, and still stronger on Elsie's, that they
presented themselves to the publisher who had said he would give a good
price for a good book written by a woman, and offered him the
manuscript for publication. Alas! tastes differ as to what is a good
book, and in nothing is there so much disparity of opinion as in the
article of poetry. He did not give much encouragement to the sisters,
but said he would read over the manuscript and give an answer in ten
days. Any one who has ever written with the hope of publishing can
fancy Elsie's feeling during these ten days. Her own verses rang in her
ears; she recollected passages she might have altered and improved, and
wondered if they would strike the critic as faulty; then again she
recalled passages which she fancied could not be improved, and hoped he
would not skip them; now she would sit idle in the thought that, until
she saw there was a market for her productions, there was no necessity
for multiplying them; then again she would work with redoubled industry
to see if she had not quite exhausted her fancy and her powers.