Some day, when the 'second round of the third issue' is off,
and the 'first round of the fourth issue' is started, when
the subscriptions are whirling in like snowflakes through
which you are gliding smoothly and well to fortune, then you
may write to me, True, that you are coming, and I will be
ready. I know that June is the month for weddings, but it is
always June in the heart where love is, and, besides, New
York is at its best in winter and spring, and when summer
really does come we can go where our fancy takes us.

"True, when you went away, and we said to each other that we
would wait until you had made a place for yourself in the
world,--until you had 'arrived,' as you called it,--the time
of waiting seemed long. That was three years ago, but, after
all, they have been swift, sweet years, even though we have
not seen each other often. For little by little and step by
step you did 'arrive,' until we both knew you had the solid
ground of success under your feet. The joy of battle made
the days go quickly to you, while the joy of watching you
has been sweet to me. So you will not be impatient now, for
this new triumph which will come still more quickly will
make the weeks go even faster, and while it is not my best
ambition for you, and only a means to an end, I still
rejoice with you and am proud of you in it all. Good-by,
True.

"With all my love,
"DOROTHY.

"P.S. Papa just came in with the little roll from you
containing proofs of the title and department headings.
They are beautiful. He noticed all the pages on my desk
covered with figures, and asked me if I were estimating the
cost of a new Easter bonnet!

"DORRY."

VIII

THE COURSE OF EVENTS

Matters seemed to start with an exasperating lack of rapidity--so much
so that in midsummer Perner declared they seemed considerably farther
from the first issue now than they had been on the night at the Hotel
Martin. It is true, he had a "dummy" put together, all blank except the
first page and the department headings, while at the printer's there was
almost enough matter to fill the blank columns, if only Stony and Van
would talk less and complete the drawings they had started.

He said despairingly one morning to Barrifield, who had dropped in for a
moment:

"We ought to be running a semi-annual i