what not. In addition to
these there was a constantly swelling band of writers, artists, poets,
critics, dreamers of reforms social, and I know not what else, who,
holding the hope of achieving their ends or aims through some really
forceful magazine, were by now beginning to make our place a center. It
fairly swarmed for a time with aspirants; an amusing, vivid, strident
world.

As for L----, all this being new to him, he was as interested,
fascinated even, as any one well might be. He responded to it almost
gayly at times, wondering whether something wonderful, international,
enduring might not be made to come of it. He rapidly developed into one
of the most pertinacious and even disconcerting youths I have ever met.
At times he seemed to have a positive genius for saying and doing
irritable and disagreeable things, not only to me but to others. Never
having heard of me before he met me here, he was convinced, I think,
that I was a mere nothing, with some slight possibilities as an editor
maybe, certainly with none as a writer or as one who could even suggest
anything to writers. I had helped him, but that was as it should be. As
for my art-director, he was at first a fool, later a genius; ditto my
makeup man.

As for Miss E----, the Wellesley-Bryn Mawr-Mt. Holyoke assistant, who
from the first had agreed with me that here indeed was a writer of
promise, a genius really, he, as I have said, at first despised her.
Later, by dint of exulting in his force, sincerity of purpose, his keen
insight and all but braggart strength, she managed, probably on account
of her looks and physical graces, to install herself in his confidence
and to convince him that she was not only an honest admirer of his skill
but one who had taste and judgment of no mean caliber. Thereafter he
was about as agreeable as a semi-caged wild animal would be about any
office.

But above all he was affronted by M----, the publisher of the paper,
concerning whom he could find no words equal to his contemptuous
thoughts of him. The publisher, as L---- made quite bold to say to me,
was little more than a "dodging, rat-like financial ferret," a
"financial stool-pigeon for some trust or other," a "shrewd, material
little shopkeeper." This because M---- was accustomed to enter and force
a conversation here and there, anxious of course to gather the full
import of all these various energies and enthusiasms. One of the things
which L---- most resented in him