He did not take the trouble to criticise it seriously, and left Elfrida under the impression that, from his point of view at least, it had no faults.

Mr.Parke had offered the article to _Raffini_, but while they might have printed it upon his recommendation, it appeared that even his recommendation could not induce them to promise to pay for it.

And it was a theory with him that what was worth printing was invariably worth paying for, so he returned the manuscript to its author in the sincere hope that it might yet meet its deserts.

He had been thinking over the talk they had had together, and he saw more plainly than ever the hopelessness of her getting a journalistic start in Paris, however, and he would distinctly advise her to try London instead.

There were a number of ladies' papers published in London--he regretted that he did not know the editors of any of them--and amongst them, with her freshness of style, she would be sure to find an opening.