Fennel and Rue

Fennel and Rue, by William Dean Howells, begins with the line that the success of Verrian did not come early, and it did not come easily. The editors, the text says, began to accept his work from their consciences, because in its way it was so good that they could not justly refuse it. One speaker says the writer of a letter will be on confidential terms with her pastor as well as her doctor, and proposes asking her to get him to certify, in any sort of general terms, to her identity.

Miss Macroyd says, Well, so far I've merely said I was sure you were not Verrian the actor. I'll think the other part over. Verrian goes gloomily back to the billiard-room where most of the smokers are conspicuously yawning, and Bushwick, left with him after the others drop away, says some of the fellows are going Thursday and asks if he will stick it out to the bitter end. A man loafs his mornings away at his club and lunches there, leaving his mother to lunch alone, and sits at his desk unable to coax the thoughts from his brain to its alluring blank.