'I don't deny that; probably the man was sincerely indignant at certain aspects. I am ready to allow he did not even see he was one-sided. But if _you_ see it, why not show the world the other side of the shield?' She put her hand wearily to her brow. 'Do not ask me,' she said. 'To have my work appreciated merely because the moral tickled the reader's vanity would be a mockery. The suffrages of the Jewish public--I might have valued them once; now I despise them.' She sank further back on the chair, pale and silent. 'Why, what harm have they done you?' he asked. 'They are so stupid,' she said, with a gesture of distaste. 'That is a new charge against the Jews.' 'Look at the way they have denounced this Armitage, saying his book is vulgar and wretched and written for gain, and all because it does not flatter them.' 'Can you wonder at it? To say "you're another" may not be criticism, but it is human nature.' Esther smiled sadly. 'I cannot make you out at all,' she said. 'Why? What is there strange about me?' 'You say such shrewd, humorous things sometimes--I wonder how you can remain orthodox.' 'Now I can't understand _you_,' he said, puzzled. 'Oh, well! Perhaps if you could, you wouldn't be orthodox. Let us remain mutual enigmas. And will you do me a favour?' 'With pleasure,' he said, his face lighting up. 'Don't mention Mr. Armitage's book to me again. I am sick of hearing about it.' 'So am I,' he said, rather disappointed. 'After that dinner I thought it only fair to read it; and although I detect considerable crude power in it, still I am very sorry it was ever published. The presentation of Judaism is most ignorant. All the mystical yearnings of the heroine might have found as much satisfaction in the faith of her own race as they find expression in its poetry.' He rose to go. 'Well, I am to take it for granted you will not write that antidote?' 'I'm afraid it would be impossible for me to undertake it,' she said, more mildly than before, and pressed her hand again to her brow. 'Pardon me,' he said, in much concern. 'I am too selfish. I forgot you are not well. How is your head feeling now?' 'About the same, thank you,' she said, forcing a grateful smile. 'You may rely on me for art, yes; and music, too, if you like.' 'Thank you,' he said. 'You read a great deal, don't you?' She nodded her head. 'Well, every week books are published of more or less direct Jewish interest; I should be glad of notes about such, to brighten up the paper.' 'For anything strictly unorthodox you may count on me. If that antidote turns up, I shall not fail to cackle over it in your columns. By-the-bye, are you going to review the poison? Excuse so many mixed metaphors,' she added, with a rather forced laugh. 'No, I shan't say anything about it. Why give it an extra advertisement by slating it?' 'Slating,' she repeated, with a faint smile. 'I see you have mastered all the slang of your profession.'