have just suggested to a whole
number of your admirers to meet me at this house on Wednesday
next, when I propose to read aloud to them either your article
in the _General Review_ or one of your stories in the
_Argonaut_. Do send me the copies, dear; I have failed hitherto
to get them."

At this point in her letter Mrs. Aylmer broke off abruptly. There had
come a great blot of ink on the paper, as if her pen had suddenly fallen
from her hand. Later on the letter was continued, but in a different
tone.

"Our clergyman, Mr. Walker, has just been to see me. What do
you think he has come about? He brought your paper with him and
read passages of it aloud. He said that it was my duty
immediately to see you, and to do my utmost to get you into a
better frame of mind.

"He says your style--I am quoting his exact words--and your
sentiments are bitterly wrong, and will do a lot of mischief.
My dear girl, what does this mean? Just when your poor, doting
old mother was so full of bliss and so proud of you, to give
her a knock-down blow of this sort! I must request you, my
precious child, the next time you write for the _General
Review_, to do a paper which will not cause such remarks as I
have just listened to from the lips of our good clergyman. You
might write, Florence, a nice little essay on the sins of
ambition, or something of that sort--or what do you say to a
paper on flowers, spring flowers?--I think that would be so
sweet and poetic--or the sad sea waves? I really did not know
that I had such a clever brain myself. You must have inherited
your talent from me, darling. Now, do write a paper on the sad
sea waves. I know I shall cry over it. I feel it beforehand.
Don't forget, my love, the lessons your poor mother has tried
to teach you. Mr. Walker spoke so severely that I almost
thought I ought to return your nice cheque for five pounds; but
on reflection, it seemed to me that that would do no good, and
that I at least knew how to spend the money well. I told him I
would give him ten shillings out of it for the missionary
society. He seemed quite shocked. How narrow-minded some
clergymen are! But there, Flo, don't forget that the next paper
is to be on spring flowers or the sad sea waves. It will take
like wildfire.

"Your Affectionate Moth