"Yes, that's there--'_To her that shall be named hereafter._'"
"So I see. Well, I hope she'll like them. It is an enviable privilege to confer immortality."
"Yes, do. It will be less trouble than getting it for myself."
Philip stood on the hearthrug and warmed himself.
"My dear Dale," he said, "I do not snarl. A wise author pleases each section of the public in turn. Hitherto you have pleased me and my kind, and Roberts and his kind, and Arthur Angell and his kind--who are, by the way, not worth pleasing, for they expect presentation copies. Now, in this new work, which is, I understand, your tribute to the nation which has the honor to bear you, you will please----" He paused.
"I always write to please myself," said Dale.
"Yourself," continued Philip, "this mysterious lady, and, I think we may add, the Mayor of Market Denborough."
A few weeks later the Mayor stood at his door, one bright morning in January, holding a parley with Alderman Johnstone.
"I dessay, now," said the Mayor, "that you aint been in the way of seein' the Squire lately?"
"I see him last when he signed my lease," answered the Alderman, with a grim smile, "and that's a month come to-morrow."
"I had a conversation with him yesterday, and after touchin' on the matter of that last pavin' contract,--he'd heard o' your son-in-law gettin' it, Johnstone,--he got talkin' about Mr. Bannister."
"And about his noo book. 'It's a blessin',' he says, 'to see a young man of such promise shakin' himself free of that pestilential trash.' He meant your opinions by that, Johnstone."
"Supposing 'e did, what then? I don't label my opinions to please the customers like as some do their physic."
The Mayor was not in a fighting mood; his mind was busy with speculations, and he ignored the challenge.
"Queer start Mr. Bannister showin' up at the church bazaar, eh? Spent a heap o' money, too. I met Mr. Hume, and asked him about it, and he said----"
"It wan't no business o' yours, didn't he?"
"Mr. Hume--he's a gentleman, Johnstone," remarked the Mayor in grave rebuke.
"That where the carcass was, the eagles 'ud be gathered together."
Mr. Johnstone smiled a smile of pity for the Mayor's density.
"Well, what do you suppose he meant?" asked the Mayor in reply to the smile.