ould. The paper
was in the essay style, between argument and sarcasm, something after
the model of the Invalid's Letters; but it was scarcely lightly touched
enough, the irony was wormwood, the gravity heavy and sententious, and
where there was a just thought or happy hit, it seemed to travel in a
road-waggon, and be lost in the rumbling of the wheels. Ermine did
not restrain a smile, half of amusement, half of relief, at the
self-antidote the paper contained; but the smile passed with the
authoress as a tribute to her satire.

"In this age," she said, "we must use those lighter weapons of wit, or
no one will attend."

"Perhaps," said Ermine, "if I approve your object, I should tell you you
don't use them lightly."

"Ah! but I know you don't approve it. You are not lay woman enough to be
impartial, and you belong to the age that was trying the experiment of
the hierarchy modified: I to that which has found it will not do. But at
least you understand my view; I have made out my case."

"Yes, I understand your view; but--"

"You don't sympathize. Of course not; but when it receives its full
weight from the printer's bands, you will see that it will tell. That
bit about the weak tea fumes I thought of afterwards, and I am afraid I
did not read it well."

"I remember it; but forgive me if I say first I think the whole is
rather too--too lengthy to take."

"Oh, that is only because manuscript takes long to read aloud. I counted
the words, so I can't be mistaken, at least I collated twenty lines,
and multiplied; and it is not so long as the Invalid's last letter about
systematic reading."

"And then comes my question again, Is good to come of it?"

"That I can't expect you to see at this time; but it is to be the
beginning of a series, exposing the fallacies of woman's life as at
present conducted; and out of these I mean to point the way to more
consistent, more independent, better combined exertion. If I can make
myself useful with my pen, it will compensate for the being debarred
from so many more obvious outlets. I should like to have as much
influence over people's minds as that Invalid for instance, and by
earnest effort I know I shall attain it."

"I--I--" half-laughing and blushing, "I hope you will, for I know you
would wish to use it for good; but, to speak plainly, I doubt about the
success of this effort, or--or if it ought to succeed."

"Yes, I know you do," said Rachel. "No one ever can judge of a