Ruth then read Mr. Walter's letter to Mr. Lescom, as follows: "F. LESCOM, Esq. "SIR,--Your letter in regard to 'Floy,' &c., is at hand. You say, that perhaps I am not aware that _you_ were the first to introduce 'Floy' to the public, and that _you_ have made her reputation. It is fortunate for _you_ that she made The Standard the channel of her first communications to the public. I know this very well, but I am not aware, nor do I believe, that _you_ have made her reputation; neither do I think that you believe this yourself. The truth is simply this; 'Floy' is a genius; her writings, wherever published, would have attracted attention, and stamped the writer as a person of extraordinary talent; hence her fame and success, the fruits of which _you_ have principally reaped. As to 'Floy's' being under any obligations to you, I repudiate the idea entirely; the 'obligation' is all on the other side. _She_ has made 'The Standard,' instead of you making _her_ reputation. Her genius has borne its name to England, Scotland, Ireland,--wherever the English language is spoken,--and raised it from an obscure provincial paper to a widely-known journal. You say that you are wealthy, and can pay as much as anybody for 'Floy's' services; I wonder this has never occurred to you before, especially as she has informed you frequently how necessitous were her circumstances. You also inform me that the circulation of The Standard has nearly doubled the past year. This I can readily believe, since it is something more than a year since 'Floy' commenced writing for it. In reply to your declaration, 'that in case you are driven to compete for 'Floy's' services, you can outbid all competitors,' I have only to say that my contract with her is for one year; on its expiration, 'Floy' will be at liberty to decide for herself; you will then have an opportunity to compete for her pen, and enjoy the privilege of exhibiting your enterprise and liberality. "Your ob't servant, JOHN WALTER." Ruth waited some time after reading these letters, for Mr. Lescom to come in; but, finding he was still unexpectedly detained, she took a handful of letters, which the clerk had just received by mail for her, and bent her steps homeward. CHAPTER LXXII.