NINE o'clock
`` Why , it 's the rare and beautiful fern , and you were taking it to me ! Bless your dear heart ! '' and , much to his surprise , she began to cry . Reprinted from _ The Century Magazine _ of July , 1903 by permission AT NINE o'clock that morning Rosella arrived in her little office on the third floor of the great publishing house of Conant & Company , and putting up her veil without removing her hat , addressed herself to her day 's work . She went through her meager and unimportant mail , wrote a few replies , and then turned to the pile of volunteer manuscripts which it was her duty to read and report upon . For Rosella was Conant 's `` reader , '' and so well was she acquainted with the needs of the house , so thorough was she in her work , and so great was the reliance upon her judgment , that she was the only one employed . Manuscripts that she `` passed up '' went direct to Conant himself , while the great army of the `` declined '' had no second chance .