"Young gentleman," said he, "perhaps you will take tea with us this evening, when we will talk further over the matter." That evening I went and took tea with the bookseller and his wife, both of whom, particularly the latter, overwhelmed me with civility.

It was not long before I learned that the work had been already sent to the press, and was intended to stand at the head of a series of entertaining narratives, from which my friends promised themselves considerable profit.

The subject of terms was again brought forward.

I stood firm to my first demand for a long time; when, however, the bookseller's wife complimented me on my production in the highest terms, and said that she discovered therein the germs of genius, which she made no doubt would some day prove ornamental to my native land, I consented to drop my demand to twenty pounds, stipulating, however, that I should not be troubled with the correction of the work.
Before I departed I received the twenty pounds, and departed with a light heart to my lodgings.
Reader, amidst the difficulties and dangers of this life, should you ever be tempted to despair, call to mind these latter chapters of the life of Lavengro.

There are few positions, however difficult, from which dogged resolution and perseverance may not liberate you..