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384 J A M E S { 1914-1915 jPortrait," Joyce had no reason to feel discouraged. On February 10, 1915,he received an unexpected letter from J. B. Pinker, the London literaryagent, offering at the suggestion of H. G. Wells to act for Joyce. 19Wellshimself wrote in April that he had 'an unstinted admiration' 20for Joyce'swork, which he had read in the Egoist. As he later explained, he thoughtJoyce had succeeded in preserving an example of the products of Catholiceducation for the 'amazement of posterity.' 21Joyce followed Wells's adviceby signing an agreement with Pinker in April. It did not work outvery well, for the agent was to have little luck in marketing such peculiarmerchandise; he did, however, serve Joyce as the amiable recipient of theinnumerable letters about small matters which Joyce soon began painstakinglyto send him.In America, B. W. Huebsch read Dubliners and recognized the meritof the stories. He would have liked to publish them at once, but at themoment could not afford to do so, as he informed Joyce. His acutenessled to an association which endured until Joyce's death. Huebsch combineda sense of English style with the frankness and honesty which inRoberts had been so lacking. For the moment, he contented himself withurging H. L. Mencken, as Pound had already done, to publish some ofthe stories in the Smart Set, and Mencken bravely obliged by using 'TheBoarding House' and 'A Little Cloud' in the May issue.Another change took place now in Joyce's household. His sister Eileenwas engaged in 1914 to a Czech bank cashier in Trieste, FrantisekSchaurek. She had written at the time to John Joyce, and the newsbrought on a sudden letter from Dublin: Beaumont,Upper Drumcondra,5-5-14-Dear Jim,As you see by above, I am located here. I have been two months inhospital and am trying to get well in this convalescent home and am feelingsomewhat better. I note all you say about yourself, and as soon as Iam able to write you I will do so more fully. I am most anxious to knowthe full particulars concerning Eileen, namely, who and what this gentlemanis. I am satisfied both you and your brother will look to her futureand see that she does not take any step that may mar her future. I am andalways was very fond of Eileen. She is the only one of my daughters (nowalive) who never gave me insolence or showed contempt for me, so that Ilook to you to take my part and see after her interests. I had a letter fromher telling me that she is very fond of this young gentleman, and of coursethat counts for a good deal, but at the same time is not everything. As youknow, I had experience in that respect. I am enclosing you a letter to heras she requested.* He had sent it to a reader in April with the remark that the book seemed to him 'quitehopeless.' 18