grocer's son who pitches his half-sovereign to the waiter when he
has dined himself into good humour! But I tell you what it is:
you must really try to influence him towards practicality. Don't
you think--?'

He paused, and Amy sat looking at her hands.

'I have made an attempt,' she said at length, in a distant
undertone.

'You really have?'

Jasper leaned forward, his clasped hands hanging between his
knees. He was scrutinising her face, and Amy, conscious of the
too fixed regard, at length moved her head uneasily.

'It seems very clear to me,' she said, 'that a long book is out
of the question for him at present. He writes so slowly, and is
so fastidious. It would be a fatal thing to hurry through
something weaker even than the last.'

'You think "The Optimist" weak?' Jasper asked, half absently.

'I don't think it worthy of Edwin; I don't see how anyone can.

'I have wondered what your opinion was. Yes, he ought to try a
new tack, I think.'

Just then there came the sound of a latch-key opening the outer
door. Jasper lay back in his chair and waited with a smile for