Margot shook her head at him with a pretence of disapproval, smiling the while, so as to show off the dimple to the best advantage. "You mustn't make me conceited. I am vain enough already to know that you love me, and have taken so much trouble to please me. It _was_ kind of you!" "What was kind, sweetheart? There is no kindness in loving you. I had no choice in the matter, for I simply could not help myself!" "Ah, but you know what I mean! You have given me my two greatest desires! I can't tell you how happy I was when I saw it." He stared at her for a moment, then smiled complacently. "You mean--my note?" "No, I didn't mean your note. Not this time. I meant the magazine!" "Magazine!" The accent of bewilderment was unmistakably genuine, and Margot hastened to explain still further. "The new number of the _Loadstar_ with Ron's poem in it!" "Ron's poem!" The note of bewilderment was accentuated to one of positive incredulity. "A poem by your brother in the _Loadstar_! I did not know that he wrote at all." Now it was Margot's turn to stare and frown. "You didn't know! But you _must_ have known. How else could it get in? You must have given permission." "My sweetheart, what have I to do with the _Loadstar_, or any other magazine? What has my permission to do with it?" "Everything in the world! Oh, I know exactly what has happened. Your brother has told you about Ron, and showed you his verses, and you put them in for his sake--_and mine_! Because you knew I should be pleased, and because they are good too, and you were glad to help him. He is longing to come in to thank you himself. We shall both thank you all our lives!" George Elgood's face of stupefaction was a sight to behold. His forehead was corrugated with lines of bewilderment; he stared at her in blankest dismay. "What _are_ you talking about, sweetheart? What does it all mean? Your brother has no need to thank me for any success which he has gained. I should have been only too delighted to help him in any way that was in my power, but I have no influence with the _Loadstar Magazine_." "No influence! How can that be when you are the Editor?" "I am the _What_?" "Editor! You have every influence. You _are_ the magazine!" George Elgood rose to his feet with a gesture of strongest astonishment. "I the Editor of a magazine! My dearest little girl, what are you dreaming about? There never was a man less suited to the position. I know nothing whatever of magazines--of any sort of literature. I am in corn!" A corn merchant! Margot's brain reeled. She lay back in her chair, staring at him with wide, stunned eyes, too utterly prostrated by surprise to be capable of speech! CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. AN INTERVIEW WITH THE EDITOR.