Page:Emily Climbs.pdf/260

“But I found some other lines that inspire me—I have written them on the index-page of my new Jimmy-book.

“Oh, it’s true. We must follow our ‘airy voices,’ follow them through every discouragement and doubt and disbelief till they lead us to our City of Fulfilment, wherever it may be.

“I had four rejections in the mail today, raucously shrieking failure at me. Airy Voices grow faint in such a clamour. But I'll hear them again. And I will follow—I will not be discouraged. Years ago I wrote a ‘vow’—I found it the other day in an old packet in my cupboard—that I would ‘climb the Alpine Path and write my name on the scroll of fame.’

“I'll keep on climbing!

“I read my Chronicles of an Old Garden over the other night. I think I can improve it considerably, now that Aunt Elizabeth has lifted the ban. I wanted Mr. Carpenter to read it, but he said,

“‘Lord, girl, I can’t wade through all that stuff. My eyes are bad. What is it—a book? Jade, it will be time ten years from now for you to be writing books.’

“‘I’ve got to practice,’ I said indignantly.

“‘Oh, practice—practice—but don’t try out the results on me. I’m too old—I really am, Jade. I don’t mind a short—a very short story—now and then—but let a poor old devil off the books.’

“I might ask Dean what he thinks of it. But Dean does laugh now at my ambitions—very cautiously and kindly—but he does laugh. And Teddy thinks everything I write perfect, so he’s no use as a critic. I wonder—I wonder if any publisher would accept The Chroni-