第43章

’Iamnotofyourcountry，sir；butIhaveaninfinitevenerationforyourcountry，asStrapsaidtotheFrenchsoldier。Willyoutakeaglassofwine？’

’Ah，detoutmoncoeur，astheparasitesaidtoGilBlas，’criedtheyoungman，laughing。’Here’stoourbetteracquaintance!’

Andbetteracquaintedwesoonbecame；andIfoundthat，inmakingtheacquaintanceoftheyoungman，Ihadindeedmadeavaluableacquisition；hewasaccomplished，highlyconnected，andborethenameofFrancisArdry。Frankandardenthewas，andinaverylittletimehadtoldmemuchthatrelatedtohimself，andinreturnIcommunicatedageneraloutlineofmyownhistory；helistenedwithprofoundattention，butlaughedheartilywhenItoldhimsomeparticularsofmyvisitinthemorningtothepublisher，whomhehadfrequentlyheardof。

Weleftthehousetogether。

’Weshallsoonseeeachotheragain，’saidhe，asweseparatedatthedoorofmylodging。

CHAPTERXXXIII

Dinewiththepublisher-Religions-Noanimalfood-Unprofitablediscussions-Principlesofcriticism-Thebookmarket-Newgatelives-Goetheadrug-Germanacquirements-Moraldignity。

ONtheSundayIwaspunctualtomyappointmenttodinewiththepublisher。AsIhurriedalongthesquareinwhichhishousestood，mythoughtswerefixedsointentlyonthegreatman，thatIpassedbyhimwithoutseeinghim。Hehadobservedme，however，andjoinedmejustasIwasabouttoknockatthedoor。’Letustakeaturninthesquare，’saidhe，’weshallnotdineforhalfanhour。’

’Well，’saidhe，aswewerewalkinginthesquare，’whathaveyoubeendoingsinceIlastsawyou？’

’IhavebeenlookingaboutLondon，’saidI，’andIhaveboughttheDAIRYMAN’SDAUGHTER；hereitis。’

’Prayputitup，’saidthepublisher；’Idon’twanttolookatsuchtrash。Well，doyouthinkyoucouldwriteanythinglikeit？’

’Idonot，’saidI。

’Howisthat？’saidthepublisher，lookingatme。

’Because，’saidI，’themanwhowroteitseemstobeperfectlywellacquaintedwithhissubject；and，moreover，towritefromtheheart。’

’Bythesubjectyoumean-’

’Religion。’

’Andain’tyouacquaintedwithreligion？’

’Verylittle。’

’Iamsorryforthat，’saidthepublisherseriously，’forhewhosetsupforanauthoroughttobeacquaintednotonlywithreligion，butreligions，andindeedwithallsubjects，likemygoodfriendinthecountry。ItiswellthatIhavechangedmymindabouttheDAIRYMAN’SDAUGHTER，orIreallydon’tknowwhomIcouldapplytoonthesubjectatthepresentmoment，unlesstohimself；

andafterallIquestionwhetherhisstyleisexactlysuitedforanevangelicalnovel。’

’ThenyoudonotwishforanimitationoftheDAIRYMAN’SDAUGHTER？’

’Idonot，sir；Ihavechangedmymind，asItoldyoubefore；I

wishtoemployyouinanotherline，butwillcommunicatetoyoumyintentionsafterdinner。’

Atdinner，besidethepublisherandmyself，werepresenthiswifeandsonwithhisnewly-marriedbride；thewifeappearedaquietrespectablewoman，andtheyoungpeoplelookedveryhappyandgood-

natured；notsothepublisher，whooccasionallyeyedbothwithcontemptanddislike。Conne