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316 for a political and literary life, and I have long chafed at the restraints——"

"Young shaver, in the ministerial world—I mean the world of ministers of religion—there are also calls; but, curiously enough, only such are listened to when the call is from a salary of fifty to a hundred and fifty. I never yet heard of a pastor who listened to a call to leave one of a hundred for one of half that amount. But they jump like frogs when the call is t'other way. You should have learned wisdom from those apostles of light. You have, I fear, thrown up a lucrative situation for nothing. Like the dog in the fable, dropped the piece of meat to bite at a shadow."

"I have no doubt," said Jingles gravely, "that at first I shall not earn much; but I have some money laid by which will serve my necessities till I have made myself a name, and got an assured income."

"Made yourself a name! That is what no journalist ever does. Got an assured income! That comes late. You have not been through the mill."

"I have in my bag some articles I have touched off, leaders on important matters, of absorbing interest to the public."

"As what?"

"Port Hamilton."

"The public don't care a snap about that."

"The Eastern Question."

"About which you know nothing."

"The Irish Land Question."

"On which you are incompetent to form an opinion."

"Will you look at my articles?"

"I can't say. I can tell what they are like without your opening the bag. I know exactly the style of these schoolboy productions. If you particularly desire it, I will run my eye over them; but I tell you beforehand, they are good for nought. Mind you, I don't expect that a writer