decided originality and merit, and which may be received
with marked favour by the public, while it can hardly
fail in any case to obtain a reception which will
probably encourage its author to further efforts. Of
course, there is a certain risk attending its reception
which renders it impossible for us to offer such terms
for a first book as may be legitimately demanded
hereafter for a second production by the same pen. We
will give you ...' (and here followed the terms, which
struck Mark as fairly liberal for a first book by an
unknown author). 'Should you accept our offer, will you
do us the favour to call upon us here at your earliest
convenience, when all preliminary matters can be discussed.
'We are, &c.,
'CHILTON & FLADGATE.'

Mark ran hurriedly through this letter with a feeling, first of
incredulous wonder, then of angry protest against the bull-headed
manner in which Fortune had dealt out this favour.

Vincent had been saved the dreary delays, the disappointments and
discouragements, which are the lot of most first books; he had won a
hearing at once--and where was the use of it? no praise or fame among
men could reach him now.

If he had been alive, Mark thought bitterly; if a letter like this
would have rescued him from all he detested, and thrown open to him
the one career for which he had any ambition, he might have waited for
it long and vainly enough. But he began by being indifferent, and, if
Fortune had required any other inducement to shower her gifts on him,
his death had supplied it.

He chafed over this as he went up to the City, for there was another
holiday-class that day at St. Peter's; he thought of it at intervals
during the morning, and always resentfully. What increased his
irritation above everything was the fact that the publishers evidently
regarded _him_ as the author of the book, and he would have the
distasteful task put upon him of enlightening them.

When the day's duties were over he found himself putting on his hat
and coat in company with the Rev. Mr. Shelford, who was also in charge
of one of the classes formed for the relief of parents and the
performance of holiday work, and the two walked out together; Mark
intending to call at once and explain his position to Messrs. Chilton
& Fladgate.

'What are you going to do with yourself, Ashburn, now?' said Mr.
Shelford in his ab