New Grub Street · Chapter 10 (3/3)

“Yes, but it has no market value. You may write what you like, so long as people are willing to read you. Whelpdale’s a clever fellow, but he can’t hit a practical line.”

“Like some other people I have heard of,” said Reardon, laughing.

“But the odd thing is, that he always strikes one as practical-minded. Don’t you feel that, Mrs. Reardon?”

He and Amy talked for a few minutes, and Reardon, seemingly lost in meditation, now and then observed them from the corner of his eye.

At eleven o’clock husband and wife were alone again.

“You don’t mean to say,” exclaimed Amy, “that Biffen has sold his coat?”

“Or pawned it.”

“But why not the overcoat?”

“Partly, I should think, because it’s the warmer of the two; partly, perhaps, because the other would fetch more.”

“That poor man will die of starvation, some day, Edwin.”

“I think it not impossible.”

“I hope you gave him something to eat?”

“Oh yes. But I could see he didn’t like to take as much as he wanted. I don’t think of him with so much pity as I used to; that’s a result of suffering oneself.”

Amy set her lips and sighed.