their promise. But it is all very diferent stuff from _The Young Visiters_.
Please in the future disclaim all credit for giving me my idears, and in
return I can assure you that your skemes for the better education of the
people shall have my enthoosiastic suport.

_Mr. ARNOLD BENNETT to The Man in the Street._

The last thing that I wish is that you should he misunderstood; all my life
I have laboured to explain you to yourself. That my explanation has pleased
you is shown by the fact that you buy my books. But you have commenced to
give yourself airs, my man, and it is time you were put in your place. My
books are so much to your taste that you have been led to believe yourself
the author. Now please understand my books are written _for_ you and not
_by_ you. You merely exist--thanks to me--and pay. I have been told that I
once wrote a book called _The Old Wives' Tale_. If so, that was in earlier
days, and you have long since forgiven me. And do you not owe me something
for _The Pretty Lady_? Have I not shown you that your love is both sacred
and profane? As I have enough to contend with from those who care for
literature I hope any further word from me on this subject will be
unnecessary.

_Mrs. FLORENCE BARCLAY to Lord FISHER._

The phenomenal success of our recent volumes has, I understand, led a
certain section of our public to believe that you are the author of several
of my books. In particular it has been stated that _The Rosary_ was written
by your Lordship. As you know, I have a great respect for the aristocracy,
and I do not suggest that you have deliberately put yourself forward as the
author of my books. You will, however, understand me when I say that only
your Lordship could express all that I feel about the matter. The mixing up