OOD--UNPROFITABLE
DISCUSSIONS--PRINCIPLES OF CRITICISM--THE BOOK MARKET--NEWGATE
LIVES--GOETHE--GERMAN ACQUIREMENTS--MORAL DIGNITY

On the Sunday I was punctual to my appointment to dine with the
publisher. As I hurried along the square in which his house stood, my
thoughts were fixed so intently on the great man, that I passed by him
without seeing him. He had observed me, however, and joined me just as I
was about to knock at the door. 'Let us take a turn in the square,' said
he, 'we shall not dine for half an hour.'

'Well,' said he, as we were walking in the square, 'what have you been
doing since I last saw you?'

'I have been looking about London,' said I, 'and I have bought the
_Dairyman's Daughter_; here it is.'

'Pray put it up,' said the publisher; 'I don't want to look at such
trash. Well, do you think you could write anything like it?'

'I do not,' said I.

'How is that?' said the publisher, looking at me.

'Because,' said I, 'the man who wrote it seems to be perfectly well
acquainted with his subject; and, moreover, to write from the heart.'

'By the subject you mean--'

'Religion.'

'And ain't you acquainted with religion?'

'Very little.'

'I am sorry for that,' said the publisher seriously, 'for he who sets up
for an author ought to be acquainted not only with religion, but
religions, and indeed with all subjects, like my good friend in the
country. It is well that I have changed my mind about the _Dairyman's
Daughter_, or I really don't know whom I could apply to on the subject at
the present moment, unless to himself; and after all I question whether
his style is exactly suited for an evangelical novel.'

'Then you do not wish for an imitation of the _Dairyman's Daughter_?'

'I do not, sir; I have changed my mind, as I told you before; I wish to
employ you in another line, but will communicate to you my intentions
after dinner.'

At dinner, beside the publisher and myself, were present his wife and son
with his newly-married bride; the wife appeared a quiet respectable
woman, and the young people looked very happy and good-natured; not so
the publisher, who occasionally eyed both with contempt and dislike.
Connected with this dinner there was one thing remarkable; the publisher
took no animal food, but contented himself with feeding voraciously on
rice and vegetables prepared in various ways.

'You eat no animal food, sir?' said I.

'I do not, sir,' said he; 'I have forsworn