Page:The Mystery of Central Park.djvu/61

Rh way. He could not accept work, and pay for it, that was not suitable for his periodical. I don't see how he could reproach himself in that case."

"I do and so does he," she replied stoutly. "It wouldn't have taken any more time to be kind to that man than it took to be unkind to him, and when he rejected the poetry, instead of sending back that brutal printed notice he could have had his stenographer write a line, saying the poetry, though meritorious, was not suitable for his journal. That would, at least, have eased the disappointment."

"But editors haven't time for such things, Penelope."

"Then let them take time. I tell you it takes less time to be kind than to be unkind," she maintained, nodding her head positively.

"If they were not short, bores would occupy all their time," he persisted.

"Richard, we will not argue the case," she