It simply stated that Messrs. So-and-so had given their best
attention to the play of "Stilicho," which Mr. Casti had been so
good as to submit to them, and regretted their inability to make any
proposal for its publication, seeing that its subject was hardly
likely to excite popular interest. They thanked the author for
offering it to them, and begged to return the MS.

"Well, it's a disappointment," said Waymark, "but we must try again.
I myself am so hardened to this kind of thing that I fear you will
think me unsympathetic. It's like having a tooth out. You never
quite get used to it, but you learn after two or three experiments
to gauge the moment's torture at its true value. Re-direct your
parcel, and fresh hope beats out the old discouragement"

"It wasn't altogether that which was making me feel restless and
depressed," Casti said, when they had left the house and were
walking along. "I suppose I'm not quite right in health just at
present. I seem to have lost my natural good spirits of late; the
worst of it is, I can't settle to my day's work as I used to. In
fact, I have just been applying for a new place, that of dispenser
at the All Saints' Hospital. If I get it, it would make my life a
good deal more independent. I should live in lodgings of my own, and
have much more time to myself."

Waymark encouraged the idea strongly. But his companion could not be
roused to the wonted cheerfulness. After a long silence, he all at
once put a strange question, and in an abashed way.

"Waymark, have you ever been in love?"