e
was to the publisher what a staff contributor is to a newspaper. Whenever
anything was to be done, she was called upon to do it. Therefore, there
was no danger of her dying of starvation in a garret, like Chatterton, or
of her offering her manuscripts to one unwilling bookseller after
another, as happened to Carlyle.

She did not disappoint Mr. Johnson's expectations. She worked well and
diligently, being thoroughly conscientious in whatever she did. The
office of "reader" is no mere sinecure; it requires a keen critical
sense, an impartial mind, and not a little moral courage. The first of
these qualifications Mary possessed naturally, and her honesty enabled
her to cultivate the two last. She was as fearless in her criticisms as
she was just; she praised and found fault with equal temerity. This
disagreeable duty was the indirect cause of the happiest event of her
life. The circumstance in question belongs to a later date, but it may
more appropriately be mentioned here in connection with this branch of
her work. On one occasion she had to read a volume of Essays written by
Miss Hayes. The preface displeased her, and this she told the author,
stating her reasons with unhesitating frankness. Miss Hayes was a woman
capable of appreciating such candor of speech; and the business
transaction led to a sincere and lasting friendship. Miss Hayes was the
mutual friend who succeeded in producing a better feeling between Godwin
and Mary, who, as the sequel will show, were not very friendly when they
first met. This fact adds a personal interest to Mary's letter. She
writes,--

"I yesterday mentioned to Mr. Johnson your request, and he
assented, desiring that the titlepage might be sent to him. I
therefore can say nothing more, for trifles of this kind I have
always left to him to settle; and you must be aware, madam, that
the _honor_ of publishing, the phrase on which you have laid a
stress, is the cant of both trade and sex; for if really equality
should ever take place in society, the man who is employed and
gives a just equivalent for the money he receives will not behave
with the servile obsequiousness of a servant.

"I am now going to treat you with still greater frankness. I do not
approve of your preface, and I will tell you why: if your work
should deserve attention, it is a blur on the very face of it.
Disadvantages of education, etc., ought, in my o