I was familiar with the life
of the House of Commons and the clubs of London, if not with that of
the other august and crimson-benched Chamber.

'You know L----,' he said, casually mentioning a leader in literary
journalism so prominent that I could not but be familiar with his
reputation.

'By name, of course,' I agreed.

'Ah! To be sure. And T----, and R----, and, I think, J----; yes, I've
got 'em all. So we ought to make the _Advocate_ move things along, if
the most brilliant staff in London can accomplish it.'

I nodded sympathetically, and presently gathered that over and above
all this the kindly and intimate relations subsisting between
Arncliffe and the principal occupants of the Treasury Bench (not to
mention a certain moiety of influence which might conceivably be
exercised by the new proprietor, Sir William) were such as to ensure
brilliant success and greatly increased prestige to the _Advocate_,
under the new regime.

All this was very pleasant hearing, of course, and at suitable
intervals I offered congratulatory movements of the head and eyebrows,
with murmured ejaculations to similar effect. But, as touching myself
and my obscure problems (of which such an Olympian as Arncliffe could,
naturally, have no conception), it was all somewhat insubstantial and
remote; rather of the stuff of which dreams are compounded. And so,
watching my opportunity, I presently ventured a tentative inquiry as
to the direction in which I might hope to justify the terms of Mr.
Arncliffe's letter, and be of any service.

'Oh! Well, of course, that's for you to say,' said the editor, with a
suggestion of having been suddenly curbed in full career. 'I may be
quite wrong in supposing such things would have any interest for you.
But I--I have followed--er--your work, you know; followed your work
and, in fact, it struck me you might like to join us here, you know.
It is a staff worth joining, I think, and-- But, of course, you are the
best judge of your own affairs.'

'It's extremely kind of you, extremely kind.'

'Not at all. I think you could do good work for the _Advocate_.'

'There's nothing I'd like better. But-- Do I understand that you mean
me to join your permanent staff, and come and work here in the
building every day?'

'Why, yes; yes, to be sure.'

'I see.'

It meant an end to my free-lancing then. But, after all, what had this
free-lancing meant, since my marriage? It would provide a place to
work in. T