MISUNDERSTOOD 281 



" If the truth were known," he went on, "I 

 don't believe you've read a word of either of 

 those two authors !" 



" I — er — no — the fact is " 



" Get out of my house !" he roared, crossing 

 the room to give the bell a vicious pull. " You're 

 an impostor, sir ! That's what you are !" 



" Show this — this gentleman out," he said, a 

 moment later, when the butler appeared. " And 

 never let him darken my doors again !" 



I slunk miserably away, vainly seeking con- 

 solation from the reflection that, as Emerson 

 says, to be great is to be misunderstood. 



I had meant so well; but, alas ! we know 

 whither the path of the well-intentioned leads. 

 As I realized what my original mistake had cost 

 me, I suffered all the pangs of purgatory. 



On my way home, as I turned out of Oxford 

 Street, my eye was arrested by a notice on the 

 door of a Methodist Chapel: 



SUBJECT OF NEXT SUNDAY^S SERMON: 



" IS THERE A HELL V 



Mr. John Evans will sing, " Tell Mother I've been there." 



" So have I !" I muttered bitterly to myself, 

 as I strode swiftly past. " So have I !" 



