 desire
of literary fame, deep down below all the surface faults of my character. The
best of my life has gone by, and it drives me to despair when I feel that I have
not gained the position due to me. There is only one way of doing this now, and
that is by becoming the editor of an important periodical. Only in that way
shall I succeed in forcing people to pay attention to my claims. Many a man goes
to his grave unrecognised, just because he has never had a fair judgment.
Nowadays it is the unscrupulous men of business who hold the attention of the
public; they blow their trumpets so loudly that the voices of honest men have no
chance of being heard.«
    Marian was pained by the humility of his pleading with her - for what was
all this but an endeavour to move her sympathies? - and by the necessity she was
under of seeming to turn a deaf ear. She believed that there was some truth in
his estimate of his own powers; though as an editor he would almost certainly
fail, as a man of letters he had probably done far better work than some who had
passed him by on their way to popularity. Circumstances might enable her to
assist him, though not in the way he proposed. The worst of it was that she
could not let him see what was in her mind. He must think that she was simply
balancing her own satisfaction against his, when in truth she suffered from the
conviction that to yield would be as unwise in regard to her father's future as
it would be perilous to her own prospect of happiness.
    »Shall we leave this to be talked of when the money has been paid over to
me?« she said, after a silence.
    »Yes. Don't suppose I wish to influence you by dwelling on my own hardships.
That would be contemptible. I have only taken this opportunity of making myself
better known to you. I don't readily talk of myself, and in general my real
feelings are hidden by the faults of my temper. In suggesting how you could do
me a great service, and at the same time reap advantage for yourself, I couldn't
but remember how little reason you have to think kindly of me. But we will
postpone further talk. You will think over what I have said?«
    Marian promised that she would, and was glad to bring the conversation to an
end.
    When Sunday came, Yule inquired of his daughter if she had any engagement
for the afternoon.
    »Yes, I have,« she
