Page:Arthur Machen - The Hill of Dreams.djvu/66

THE HILL OF DREAMS beginning; it was a very favourable one, and pronounced the volume an immense advance on Mr. Ritson's previous work. 'Here, undoubtedly, the author has discovered a vein of pure metal,' the reviewer added, 'and we predict that he will go far.' Lucian had not yet reached his father's stage, he was unable to grin in the manner of that irreverent parson. The passage selected for high praise was taken almost word for word from the manuscript now resting in his room, the work that had not reached the high standard of Messrs. Beit & Co., who, curiously enough, were the publishers of the book reviewed in the Reader. He had a few shillings in his possession, and wrote at once to a bookseller in London for a copy of The Chorus in Green, as the author had oddly named the book. He wrote on June 21st, and thought he might fairly expect to receive the interesting volume by the 24th; but the postman, true to his traditions, brought nothing for him, and in the afternoon he resolved to walk down to Caermaen, in case it might have come by a second post; or it might have been mislaid at the office; they forgot parcels sometimes, especially when the bag was heavy and the weather hot. This 24th was a sultry and oppressive day; a grey veil of cloud 56