He contracted his eyes, coughed, and said constrainedly: "Are you a subscriber?"

"I am."

"What is the character of your manuscript?" He took it up as he
spoke, and glanced over the pages.

"You can determine that from a perusal. If the sketch suits you, I
should like to become a regular contributor."

A gleam of sunshine strayed over the countenance, and the editor
answered, very benignly: "If the article meets with our approbation, we shall be very happy
to afford you a medium of publication in our journal. Can we depend
on your punctuality?"

"I think so. What are your terms?"

"Terms, madam? I supposed that your contribution was gratuitous,"
said he very loftily.

"Then you are most egregiously mistaken! What do you imagine induces
me to write?"

"Why, desire for fame, I suppose."

"Fame is rather unsatisfactory fare. I am poor, sir, and write to
aid me in maintaining myself."

"Are you dependent solely on your own exertions, madam?"

"Yes."

"I am sorry I cannot aid you; but nowadays there are plenty of
authors who write merely as a pastime, and we have as many
contributions as we can well look over."

"I am to understand, then, that the magazine is supported altogether
by gratuitous contributions?" said Beulah, unable to repress a
smile.