the thing on us, and we have to do what we can. They're
stuck with it, I understand, and they look to us to help
them. They're advertising it largely and may pull it
off. Of course, there's just a chance. One can't tell.
It's just possible we may get the church people down on
it and if so we're all right. But short of that we'll
never make it. I imagine it's perfectly rotten."

"Haven't you read it?" I asked.

"Dear me, no!" said the manager. His air was that of a
milkman who is offered a glass of his own milk. "A pretty
time I'd have if I tried to READ the new books. It's
quite enough to keep track of them without that."

"But those people," I went on, deeply perplexed, "who
bought the book. Won't they be disappointed?"

Mr. Sellyer shook his head. "Oh, no," he said; "you see,
they won't READ it. They never do."

"But at any rate," I insisted, "your wife thought it a
fine story."

Mr. Sellyer smiled widely.

"I am not married, sir," he said.