Chapter II

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

a proposal for an appropriate course of action

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading “If you ever want to get a book published,” he said, with a touch on the quick that made the conscious author wince, “they’re your men.”

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

the proprietor of a bookstore

From this reading The bookseller in Midland, who united bookselling with a stationery and music business, was one of these, and he had offered Ray a letter to them.

plural of “bookseller” — the proprietor of a bookstore

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bookseller in Midland, who united bookselling with a stationery and music business, was one of these, and he had offered Ray a letter to them.

inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading The bookseller in Midland, who united bookselling with a stationery and music business, was one of these, and he had offered Ray a letter to them.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

plural of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

formal or perfunctory politeness

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

not accessible to view

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

intentionally conceived

From this reading “If you ever want to get a book published,” he said, with a touch on the quick that made the conscious author wince, “they’re your men.”

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

plural of “counter” — table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

someone who pays for goods or services

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

plural of “customer” — someone who pays for goods or services

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

past form of “depend” — be contingent upon (something that is elided)

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

at any time

From this reading “If you ever want to get a book published,” he said, with a touch on the quick that made the conscious author wince, “they’re your men.”

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading “If you ever want to get a book published,” he said, with a touch on the quick that made the conscious author wince, “they’re your men.”

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “If you ever want to get a book published,” he said, with a touch on the quick that made the conscious author wince, “they’re your men.”

capable of being imagined

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

plural of “jobber” — someone who buys large quantities of goods and resells to merchants rather than to the ultimate customers

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading The bookseller in Midland, who united bookselling with a stationery and music business, was one of these, and he had offered Ray a letter to them.

plural of “library” — a room where books are kept

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

the force of workers available

From this reading “If you ever want to get a book published,” he said, with a touch on the quick that made the conscious author wince, “they’re your men.”

a town in west central Texas

From this reading The bookseller in Midland, who united bookselling with a stationery and music business, was one of these, and he had offered Ray a letter to them.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading The bookseller in Midland, who united bookselling with a stationery and music business, was one of these, and he had offered Ray a letter to them.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading The bookseller in Midland, who united bookselling with a stationery and music business, was one of these, and he had offered Ray a letter to them.

out of fashion

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The bookseller in Midland, who united bookselling with a stationery and music business, was one of these, and he had offered Ray a letter to them.

plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

above and across; more than

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading “If you ever want to get a book published,” he said, with a touch on the quick that made the conscious author wince, “they’re your men.”

plural of “publisher” — a firm in the publishing business

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

accomplished rapidly and without delay

From this reading “If you ever want to get a book published,” he said, with a touch on the quick that made the conscious author wince, “they’re your men.”

on the contrary

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “If you ever want to get a book published,” he said, with a touch on the quick that made the conscious author wince, “they’re your men.”

an area where merchandise (such as cars) can be displayed

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

Identical; not different.

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

small or little relative to something else

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

paper cut to an appropriate size for writing letters; usually with matching envelopes

From this reading The bookseller in Midland, who united bookselling with a stationery and music business, was one of these, and he had offered Ray a letter to them.

an idea that is suggested

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

status with respect to the relations between people or groups

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “If you ever want to get a book published,” he said, with a touch on the quick that made the conscious author wince, “they’re your men.”

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

in or at that place or location

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading The bookseller in Midland, who united bookselling with a stationery and music business, was one of these, and he had offered Ray a letter to them.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “If you ever want to get a book published,” he said, with a touch on the quick that made the conscious author wince, “they’re your men.”

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading “If you ever want to get a book published,” he said, with a touch on the quick that made the conscious author wince, “they’re your men.”

characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity

From this reading The bookseller in Midland, who united bookselling with a stationery and music business, was one of these, and he had offered Ray a letter to them.

past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading “If you ever want to get a book published,” he said, with a touch on the quick that made the conscious author wince, “they’re your men.”

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading They were jobbers as well as booksellers; they took orders and made terms for public and private libraries; they had customers all over the country who depended on them for advice and suggestion about forth-coming books, and there were many booksellers in the smaller cities who bought through them.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

at the time that

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

during the time that

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

which person or people

From this reading Chapley & Co. were of the few old-fashioned publishers who had remained booksellers too, in a day when most publishers have ceased to be so.

draw back, as with fear or pain

From this reading “If you ever want to get a book published,” he said, with a touch on the quick that made the conscious author wince, “they’re your men.”

in the company of; together with

From this reading Ray could not help thinking the civility shown him was for an imaginable customer rather than a concealed author, but he accepted it all the same, and sat looking out into the salesroom, with its counters of books, and its shelves full of them around its walls, while he waited.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “If you ever want to get a book published,” he said, with a touch on the quick that made the conscious author wince, “they’re your men.”

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “If you ever want to get a book published,” he said, with a touch on the quick that made the conscious author wince, “they’re your men.”