s might be
discontinued."

How calmly impassive was Tom Towers' face, as this innocent little
proposition was made! Had Bold addressed himself to the doorposts in
Mount Olympus, they would have shown as much outward sign of assent or
dissent. His quiescence was quite admirable; his discretion certainly
more than human.

"My dear fellow," said he, when Bold had quite done speaking, "I
really cannot answer for _The Jupiter_."

"But if you saw that these articles were unjust, I think that You
would endeavour to put a stop to them. Of course nobody doubts that
you could, if you chose."

"Nobody and everybody are always very kind, but unfortunately are
generally very wrong."

"Come, come, Towers," said Bold, plucking up his courage, and
remembering that for Eleanor's sake he was bound to make his best
exertion; "I have no doubt in my own mind but that you wrote the
articles yourself, and very well written they were: it will be a great
favour if you will in future abstain from any personal allusion to
poor Harding."

"My dear Bold," said Tom Towers, "I have a sincere regard for you.
I have known you for many years, and value your friendship; I hope
you will let me explain to you, without offence, that none who
are connected with the public press can with propriety listen to
interference."

"Interference!" said Bold, "I don't want to interfere."

"Ah, but, my dear fellow, you do; what else is it? You think that I
am able to keep certain remarks out of a newspaper. Your information
is probably incorrect, as most public gossip on such subjects is; but,
at any rate, you think I have such power, and you ask me to use it:
now that is interference."

"Well, if you choose to call it so."

"And now suppose for a moment that I had this power, and used it as
you wish: isn't it clear that it would be a great abuse? Certain men
are employed in writing for the public press; and if they are induced
either to write or to abstain from writing by private motives,
surely the public press would soon be of little value. Look at the
recognised worth of different newspapers, and see if it does not
mainly depend on the assurance which the public feel that such a paper
is, or is not, independent. You alluded to _The Jupiter_: surely you
cannot but see that the weight of _The Jupiter_ is too great to be
moved by any private request, even though it should be made to a much
more influential person than myself: you've only to think