Gregory!... but," paused he, "we do not allow the _Woman Taken in
Adultery_ in the columns of the _Independent_."
"Well," I shot back, pleased with myself at the retort I was making,
"well, I'm mighty glad Christ didn't keep her out of the pages of the
New Testament, Dr. Ward!"
He barely smiled. He fixed me with a steadfast look of concern.
"Are you still with--with Mrs. Baxter?"
"Yes--since you ask it."
"The sooner you put that woman out of your life the better for you."
"Dr. Ward--one moment!... understand that no woman I love can be spoken
of as 'that woman' in my presence--if you were not an old man!--" I
faltered, choking with resentment.
"Now, now, my dear boy," he replied very gently, "I am older than you
say ... I am a very, very old man ... and I know life--"
"But do you know the woman you speak of?"
"I have met Mrs. Baxter casually with her husband several times." He
stopped short. He paused, gave a gesture of acquiescence.
"Oh, come, Mr. Gregory, you're right ... quite right ... I had no right
whatever to speak to you as I have--
"But please interpret it as my serious concern over your career as a
poet ... it seems such a pity ... you had such a good start."
"You mean?--" I began, and halted.
"Precisely ... I mean that for the next two or three years all the
reputable magazines will not dare consider even a masterpiece from your
hands.
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