a dozen articles anytime!" With a proud toss of her head, Edith sat down at the desk.
"Let me think... The title will be, hmm, ''On the Virtue of Revolution,''" she became inspired, her pen flying across the paper in elegant and strong strokes.
Soon, she held up the page to Andre. "I''m finished."
Andre eagerly read her words. "Fantastic! You can''t imagine how many editors would crave this capacity of yours," He couldn''t help but slap the paper, almost shouting. "They complain that the demand of journalism for speed is a tomb for talent. But you, Edith, such a piece, concise yet rich, plain yet beautiful! Who could have imagined that it would be completed in such a short time, if not for me witnessing it with my own eyes!"
"Your tone makes me think of our teacher-student days again," Edith said proudly. "Since there''s nothing to be revised, let me sign it with my new pen name."
She took the manuscript, and signed it with a flourish: "Liberty."
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On the second day, Andre walked up to Edith with a gratified smile and told her, "Our new Lady Liberty was a great success. We sold hundreds of copies on the first morning. Readers are raving about your On the Virtue of Revolution."
"Incredible!" Edith was overjoyed, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"Who knows," Andre said with a grin, "perhaps one day your popularity will surpass that of Girondin''s The French Patriots and Marat''s The Friend of People."
Overwhelmed by self-forgetful happiness, Edith threw herself into Andre''s arms like in childhood, nearly knocking him off balance.
"Ah, you''re such a good friend!" she exclaimed, lost in ecstasy.
The youth was taken aback, then blushed as her soft hair brushed against his throat, causing a slight itch.
He hesitated, raising his hand then lowered it, and raised it again in an attempt to embrace her fine back, but she slipped out of his arms like a bird, landing agilely at the writing desk.
She had already begun to write her next article at lightning speed.
"So, are we officially reconciled now?" he shook his head, laughing at himself.
"Sure," Edith replied, playfully tilting her lips. "Written off!"
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