Mr.Fletcherlaidasidethemanuscriptandletter,andtookuphisapparentlysuspendedwork.
\"WhenyouseethisMrs——Mrs.Ashwoodagain,youmightsay\"——
\"Ishallnotseeheragain,\"interruptedJohnMiltonhastily.
Mr.Fletchershruggedhisshoulders.\"Verywell,\"hesaidwithapeculiarsmile,\"Iwillwritetoher.Now,Mr.Harcourt,\"hecontinuedwithasuddenbusinessbrevity,\"ifyouplease,we\'lldropthisaffairandattendtothematterforwhichIjustsummonedyou.SinceyesterdayanimportantcontractforwhichIhavebeenwaitingisconcluded,anditsperformancewilltakemeEastatonce.Ihavemadearrangementsthatyouwillbeleftintheliterarychargeofthe\'Clarion.\'Itisonlyafittingrecompensethatthepaperowestoyouandyourfather,——towhomIhopetoseeyoupresentlyreconciled.Butwewon\'tdiscussthatnow!AsmyaffairstakemebacktoLosGatoswithinhalfanhour,IamsorryI
cannotdispensemyhospitalityinperson,——butyouwilldineandsleephereto-night.Good-by.AsyougooutwillyoupleasesendupMr.Jacksontome.\"Henoddedbriefly,seemedtoplungeinstantlyintohispapersagain,andJohnMiltonwasgladtowithdraw.