For¡¡truly¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡horrible¡¡fate¡¡to¡¡be¡¡doomed¡¡from¡¡aeon¡¡to¡¡countless¡¡aeons¡¡to¡¡the¡¡position¡¡of¡¡romance¡£
Of¡¡course¡¡what¡¡I¡¡have¡¡set¡¡down¡¡is¡¡but¡¡a¡¡fancy¡¡such¡¡as¡¡might¡¡e¡¡to¡¡an¡¡imaginative¡¡child¡£¡¡Still£»¡¡that¡¡landscape£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡know¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as£»¡¡if¡¡not¡¡better¡¡than£»¡¡any¡¡on¡¡the¡¡earth£»¡¡has¡¡charms¡¡and¡¡glories¡¡of¡¡its¡¡own¡£¡¡Therefore¡¡I¡¡have¡¡wasted¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡of¡¡my¡¡time¡¡and¡¡some¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡of¡¡my¡¡reader¡¯s¡¡in¡¡attempting¡¡very¡¡briefly¡¡to¡¡describe¡¡that¡¡which¡¡in¡¡truth¡¡no¡¡words¡¡can¡¡carry¡£
I¡¡confess¡¡that¡¡in¡¡any¡¡other¡¡life¡¡I¡¡should¡¡prefer¡¡some¡¡change¡¡of¡¡employment£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡I¡¡should¡¡be¡¡doomed¡¡to¡¡write¡¡there¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡the¡¡subject¡matter¡¡of¡¡my¡¡toil¡¡may£»¡¡as¡¡in¡¡the¡¡vision£»¡¡prove¡¡to¡¡be¡¡not¡¡fiction¡¡but¡¡history£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡love¡£¡¡In¡¡all¡¡the¡¡worlds¡¡above¡¡us¡¡there¡¡must¡¡be¡¡much¡¡history¡¡to¡¡record¡£¡¡Also¡¡there¡¡must¡¡be¡¡much¡¡good¡¡work¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡fortunate¡£¡¡At¡¡least¡¡I¡¡can¡¡conceive¡¡no¡¡idle¡¡heaven¡¡¡ª¡¡where¡¡it¡¡¡°is¡¡always¡¡afternoon¡£¡±¡¡To¡¡me¡¡such¡¡a¡¡place¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡reverse¡¡of¡¡heaven¡£¡¡To¡¡me¡¡happiness¡¡and¡¡work¡¡well¡¡done£»¡¡or¡¡service¡¡faithfully¡¡acplished£»¡¡are¡¡words¡¡with¡¡a¡¡like¡¡meaning¡£
And¡¡now£»¡¡with¡¡many¡¡apologies£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡turn¡¡to¡¡mundane¡¡things¡¡again¡£¡¡Before¡¡I¡¡do¡¡so£»¡¡however£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡dare¡¡say¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡allude¡¡to¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡no¡¡more£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡add¡¡a¡¡word¡¡on¡¡the¡¡general¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡writing¡¡of¡¡romances¡£¡¡This£»¡¡I¡¡gather£»¡¡from¡¡remarks¡¡that¡¡have¡¡been¡¡made¡¡to¡¡me¡¡and¡¡many¡¡letters¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡received£»¡¡is¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡very¡¡easy¡¡art£»¡¡if¡¡indeed¡¡it¡¡is¡¡worthy¡¡to¡¡be¡¡classified¡¡under¡¡that¡¡high¡¡name¡£¡¡As¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡fact¡¡it¡¡is¡¡difficult¡£¡¡In¡¡a¡¡novel£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡word¡¡is¡¡generally¡¡understood£»¡¡the¡¡author¡¡may¡¡discourse¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡topics£»¡¡nothing£»¡¡or¡¡at¡¡any¡¡rate¡¡very¡¡little£»¡¡is¡¡barred¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡may¡¡burrow¡¡in¡¡the¡¡obscene¡¡depths¡¡of¡¡human¡¡nature£»¡¡he¡¡may¡¡discuss¡¡politics£»¡¡religion£»¡¡metaphysics£»¡¡socialism£»¡¡¡°love¡±¡¡in¡¡all¡¡its¡¡forms£»¡¡the¡¡elemental¡¡or¡¡artificial¡¡divisions¡¡between¡¡the¡¡sexes¡¡¡ª¡¡oh£¡¡¡what¡¡is¡¡there¡¡that¡¡he¡¡may¡¡not¡¡and¡¡does¡¡not¡¡discuss£¿¡¡Nothing¡¡that¡¡appears¡¡in¡¡the¡¡columns¡¡of¡¡the¡¡daily¡¡papers£»¡¡nothing¡¡that¡¡is¡¡within¡¡the¡¡range¡¡of¡¡the¡¡human¡¡intellect£»¡¡lies¡¡beyond¡¡his¡¡legitimate£»¡¡or¡¡illegitimate£»¡¡scope¡£
In¡¡romance¡¡all¡¡this¡¡is¡¡different£»¡¡the¡¡lines¡¡between¡¡which¡¡he¡¡must¡¡move¡¡are¡¡by¡¡parison¡¡extremely¡¡narrow£º¡¡as¡¡I¡¡remember£»¡¡Besant¡¡put¡¡it¡¡admirably¡¡when¡¡answering¡¡some¡¡onslaught¡¡on¡¡myself¡¡in¡¡connection¡¡with¡¡¡°Montezuma¡¯s¡¡Daughter¡±£º¡¡¡°There¡¡is¡¡but¡¡one¡¡bag¡¡of¡¡tricks¡¡in¡¡romance¡£¡±
The¡¡love¡¡interest£»¡¡at¡¡least¡¡among¡¡the¡¡English¡speaking¡¡peoples£»¡¡must¡¡be¡¡limited¡¡and¡¡restrained¡¡in¡¡tone£»¡¡must¡¡follow¡¡the¡¡accepted¡¡lines¡¡of¡¡thought¡¡and¡¡what¡¡is¡¡defined¡¡as¡¡morality¡£¡¡Indeed¡¡it¡¡may¡¡even¡¡be¡¡omitted£»¡¡sometimes¡¡with¡¡advantage¡£¡¡The¡¡really¡¡needful¡¡things¡¡are¡¡adventure¡¡¡ª¡¡how¡¡impossible¡¡it¡¡matters¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡provided¡¡it¡¡is¡¡made¡¡to¡¡appear¡¡possible¡¡¡ª¡¡and¡¡imagination£»¡¡together¡¡with¡¡a¡¡clever¡¡use¡¡of¡¡coincidence¡¡and¡¡an¡¡ordered¡¡development¡¡of¡¡the¡¡plot£»¡¡which¡¡should£»¡¡if¡¡possible£»¡¡have¡¡a¡¡happy¡¡ending£»¡¡since¡¡few¡¡folk¡¡like¡¡to¡¡be¡¡saddened¡¡by¡¡what¡¡they¡¡read¡£¡¡If¡¡they¡¡seek¡¡melancholy£»¡¡it¡¡can¡¡be¡¡found¡¡in¡¡ample¡¡measure¡¡in¡¡real¡¡life¡¡or¡¡in¡¡the¡¡daily¡¡papers¡£¡¡Still£»¡¡the¡¡rule¡¡of¡¡the¡¡happy¡¡ending¡¡is¡¡one¡¡that¡¡may¡¡be¡¡broken¡¡at¡¡times£»¡¡at¡¡least¡¡I¡¡have¡¡dared¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so¡¡on¡¡some¡¡occasions£»¡¡and¡¡notably¡¡in¡¡the¡¡instance¡¡of¡¡¡°Eric¡¡Brighteyes¡£¡±¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡that¡¡Charles¡¡Longman¡¡remonstrated¡¡with¡¡me¡¡on¡¡this¡¡matter¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡showed¡¡him¡¡that¡¡the¡¡story¡¡demanded¡¡it¡¡¡ª¡¡that£»¡¡although¡¡I¡¡too¡¡wept¡¡over¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡necessity£»¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡so£¡
Now¡¡adventure¡¡in¡¡this¡¡narrow¡¡world¡¡of¡¡ours¡¡is¡¡a¡¡limited¡¡quantity£»¡¡and¡¡imagination£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡is¡¡hemmed¡¡in¡¡by¡¡deductions¡¡from¡¡experience¡£¡¡When¡¡we¡¡try¡¡to¡¡travel¡¡beyond¡¡these¡¡the¡¡results¡¡bee¡¡so¡¡unfamiliar¡¡that¡¡they¡¡are¡¡apt¡¡to¡¡lack¡¡interest¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ordinary¡¡mind¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡am¡¡right¡¡in¡¡saying¡¡that¡¡no¡¡one¡¡has¡¡ever¡¡written¡¡a¡¡really¡¡first¡class¡¡romance¡¡dwelling¡¡solely£»¡¡for¡¡example£»¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡utterly¡¡alien¡¡life¡¡of¡¡another¡¡world¡¡or¡¡pla¡¡with¡¡which¡¡human¡¡beings¡¡cannot¡¡possibly¡¡have¡¡any¡¡touch¡£¡¡Homer¡¡and¡¡others¡¡bring¡¡such¡¡supernormal¡¡life¡¡into¡¡the¡¡circle¡¡of¡¡our¡¡own¡¡surroundings¡¡and¡¡vivify¡¡it¡¡by¡¡contact£»¡¡or¡¡by¡¡contrast£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡play¡¡of¡¡human¡¡nature¡¡as¡¡exemplified¡¡in¡¡their¡¡characters¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡will¡¡not¡¡stand¡¡alone¡£¡¡We¡¡are¡¡not¡¡strong¡¡and¡¡skilled¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡carve¡¡out¡¡of¡¡quite¡¡unknown¡¡material¡¡figures¡¡so¡¡life¡like¡¡that¡¡even¡¡in¡¡a¡¡dreaming¡¡hour¡¡they¡¡can¡¡pass¡¡as¡¡real¡£¡¡I¡¡repeat£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡lines¡¡which¡¡close¡¡in¡¡the¡¡kingdom¡¡of¡¡romance¡¡are¡¡very¡¡narrow£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡material¡¡which¡¡must¡¡be¡¡used¡¡is¡¡so¡¡much¡¡handled¡¡that¡¡nowadays¡¡it¡¡has¡¡bee¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡fashion¡¡from¡¡it¡¡any¡¡shape¡¡that¡¡is¡¡novel¡¡enough£»¡¡or¡¡sufficiently¡¡striking¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡the¡¡attention¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£
What¡¡is¡¡there¡¡that¡¡has¡¡not¡¡been¡¡used£¿¡¡Who£»¡¡to¡¡take¡¡a¡¡single¡¡instance£»¡¡can¡¡hope¡¡to¡¡repeat¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡of¡¡Robinson¡¡Crusoe¡¡on¡¡his¡¡desert¡¡island£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡thrill¡¡of¡¡that¡¡naked¡¡footprint¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sand£¿¡¡Defoe¡¡exhausted¡¡these¡¡long¡¡ago£»¡¡everything¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sort¡¡that¡¡follows¡¡must¡¡be¡¡a¡¡mere¡¡pastiche¡£
To¡¡pass¡¡over¡¡other¡¡salient¡¡and¡¡familiar¡¡examples£»¡¡I¡¡may¡¡with¡¡humility¡¡remark¡¡that¡¡even¡¡a¡¡second¡¡¡°She¡±¡¡would¡¡offer¡¡difficulties¡¡to¡¡her¡¡originator¡£¡¡In¡¡my¡¡own¡¡day¡¡some¡¡have¡¡been¡¡tried£»¡¡and¡¡proved¡¡very¡¡ephemeral¡¡creations¡£¡¡The¡¡stock¡¡of¡¡such¡¡ideas£»¡¡in¡¡short£»¡¡is¡¡being¡¡rapidly¡¡used¡¡up¡£¡¡There¡¡are¡¡only¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡number¡¡of¡¡pieces¡¡of¡¡glass¡¡in¡¡the¡¡kaleidoscope£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡total¡¡of¡¡the¡¡patterns¡¡that¡¡these¡¡can¡¡form¡¡is£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡but¡¡limited¡£¡¡With¡¡all¡¡the¡¡world¡¡explored¡¡and¡¡exhausted£»¡¡I¡¡feel¡¡sorry¡¡for¡¡the¡¡romance¡¡writers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡future£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡know¡¡not¡¡whither¡¡they¡¡will¡¡turn¡¡without¡¡bringing¡¡themselves¡¡into¡¡petition¡¡with¡¡the¡¡efforts¡¡of¡¡dead¡¡but¡¡still¡¡remembered¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡exposing¡¡themselves¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sneers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hunters¡out¡¡of¡¡¡°plagiarisms¡£¡±
History¡¡remains¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡true£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡ground¡¡has¡¡already¡¡been¡¡well¡¡tilled¡£¡¡Also¡¡historical¡¡romances¡¡seem¡¡at¡¡present¡¡to¡¡be¡¡losing¡¡their¡¡hold£»¡¡perhaps¡¡because¡¡the¡¡reader¡¡of¡¡today¡¡fears¡¡lest¡¡he¡¡should¡¡be¡¡acquiring¡¡some¡¡useful¡¡information¡¡against¡¡his¡¡will¡£¡¡The¡¡holiday¡¡task£»¡¡or¡¡reminiscences¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡looms¡¡largely¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind¡£¡¡Still£»¡¡new¡¡avenues¡¡may¡¡open¡¡to¡¡those¡¡unborn¡¡scribes¡¡of¡¡which¡¡at¡¡present¡¡we¡¡can¡¡catch¡¡no¡¡glimpse¡£¡¡In¡¡a¡¡day¡¡to¡¡e¡¡there¡¡may¡¡even¡¡be¡¡romances¡¡of¡¡microbes¡¡which¡¡will¡¡fix¡¡the¡¡attention¡¡and¡¡engage¡¡the¡¡imaginative¡¡faculties¡¡of¡¡dim¡¡and¡¡distant¡¡generations¡£
Now¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡method¡¡of¡¡romance¡writing¡£¡¡It¡¡should£»¡¡in¡¡my¡¡judgment£»¡¡be¡¡swift£»¡¡clear£»¡¡and¡¡direct£»¡¡with¡¡as¡¡little¡¡padding¡¡and¡¡as¡¡few¡¡trappings¡¡as¡¡possible¡£¡¡The¡¡story¡¡is¡¡the¡¡thing£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡word¡¡in¡¡the¡¡book¡¡should¡¡be¡¡a¡¡brick¡¡to¡¡build¡¡its¡¡edifice¡£¡¡Above¡¡all£»¡¡no¡¡obscurity¡¡should¡¡be¡¡allowed¡£¡¡Let¡¡the¡¡characters¡¡be¡¡definite£»¡¡even¡¡at¡¡the¡¡cost¡¡of¡¡a¡¡little¡¡crudeness£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡with¡¡the¡¡meaning¡¡of¡¡each¡¡sentence¡£¡¡Tricks¡¡of¡¡¡°style¡±¡¡and¡¡dark¡¡allusions¡¡may¡¡please¡¡the¡¡superior¡¡critic£»¡¡they¡¡do¡¡not¡¡please¡¡the¡¡average¡¡reader£»¡¡and¡¡¡ª¡¡though¡¡this¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡many¡¡forget£»¡¡or¡¡only¡¡remember¡¡to¡¡deplore¡¡¡ª¡¡a¡¡book¡¡is¡¡written¡¡that¡¡it¡¡may¡¡be¡¡read¡£¡¡The¡¡first¡¡duty¡¡of¡¡a¡¡story¡¡is¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡him¡¡who¡¡peruses¡¡it¡¡awake£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡is¡¡a¡¡tired¡¡man¡¡and¡¡it¡¡succeeds¡¡in¡¡doing¡¡this£»¡¡then£»¡¡within¡¡its¡¡limitations£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡good¡¡tale¡£¡¡For¡¡instance£»¡¡when¡¡a¡¡year¡¡or¡¡so¡¡ago¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Kipling£»¡¡who¡¡as¡¡a¡¡rule¡¡goes¡¡to¡¡bed¡¡early£»¡¡told¡¡me¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡sat¡¡up¡¡to¡¡I¡¡know¡¡not¡¡what¡¡hour¡¡and¡¡got¡¡chilled¡¡through¡¡reading¡¡¡°The¡¡Ghost¡¡Kings¡±¡¡because¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡lay¡¡it¡¡down£»¡¡it¡¡gave¡¡me¡¡a¡¡higher¡¡opinion¡¡of¡¡that¡¡work¡¡than¡¡I¡¡could¡¡boast¡¡before¡£¡¡In¡¡romance¡¡¡°grip¡±¡¡is¡¡almost¡¡everything¡£¡¡Whatever¡¡its¡¡faults£»¡¡if¡¡a¡¡book¡¡has¡¡grip£»¡¡these¡¡may¡¡be¡¡forgiven¡£
Again£»¡¡such¡¡work¡¡should¡¡be¡¡written¡¡rapidly¡¡and£»¡¡if¡¡possible£»¡¡not¡¡rewritten£»¡¡since¡¡wine¡¡of¡¡this¡¡character¡¡loses¡¡its¡¡bouquet¡¡when¡¡it¡¡is¡¡poured¡¡from¡¡glass¡¡to¡¡glass¡£¡¡It¡¡should¡¡be¡¡remembered£»¡¡also£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡writer¡¡of¡¡a¡¡romance¡¡must£»¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡it¡¡is¡¡concerned£»¡¡live¡¡during¡¡its¡¡progress¡¡in¡¡an¡¡atmosphere¡¡quite¡¡alien¡¡to¡¡that¡¡of¡¡everyday¡¡life¡£¡¡Now¡¡this¡¡in¡¡a¡¡workaday¡¡world¡¡is¡¡not¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡grown¡¡people£»¡¡who¡¡perhaps¡¡have¡¡many¡¡affairs¡¡and¡¡anxieties¡¡to¡¡distract¡¡them£»¡¡even¡¡if¡¡they¡¡possess¡¡or¡¡have¡¡acquired¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡dividing¡¡their¡¡brains¡¡into¡¡more¡¡or¡¡less¡¡watertight¡¡partments¡£¡¡Indeed£»¡¡for¡¡longer¡¡than¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡period¡¡it¡¡bees¡¡almost¡¡impossible¡£¡¡Therefore£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡quality¡¡of¡¡the¡¡resulting¡¡story¡¡will¡¡depend¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡preservation¡¡of¡¡this¡¡atmosphere¡¡of¡¡romance¡¡while¡¡it¡¡is¡¡being¡¡evolved£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡highly¡¡desirable¡¡that¡¡the¡¡actual¡¡period¡¡of¡¡evolution¡¡should¡¡be¡¡short¡£¡¡Personally¡¡I¡¡have¡¡proved¡¡this£»¡¡again¡¡and¡¡again£»¡¡almost¡¡to¡¡the¡¡extent¡¡that£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡case¡¡of¡¡my¡¡own¡¡books£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡judge¡¡how¡¡long¡¡they¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡to¡¡ay¡¡long¡¡have¡¡forgotten¡¡the¡¡amount¡¡of¡¡time¡¡I¡¡spent¡¡on¡¡each¡£
So¡¡it¡¡es¡¡to¡¡this£º¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡write¡¡a¡¡good¡¡romance¡¡is¡¡to¡¡sit¡¡down¡¡and¡¡write¡¡it¡¡almost¡¡without¡¡stopping¡£¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡some¡¡preliminary¡¡reflection¡¡is¡¡desirable¡¡to¡¡realise¡¡a¡¡central¡¡idea¡¡round¡¡which¡¡the¡¡story¡¡must¡¡revolve¡£¡¡For¡¡example£»¡¡in¡¡¡°She¡±¡¡that¡¡central¡¡idea¡¡was¡¡a¡¡ortality£»¡¡but¡¡who¡¡found¡¡that¡¡her¡¡passions¡¡remained¡¡immortal¡¡too¡£¡¡In¡¡¡°The¡¡Holy¡¡Flower£»¡±¡¡which¡¡I¡¡finished¡¡yesterday£»¡¡to¡¡take¡¡another¡¡case£»¡¡the¡¡central¡¡idea¡¡is¡¡that¡¡of¡¡a¡¡gorilla¡¡which¡¡is¡¡worshipped¡¡as¡¡a¡¡god¡¡and¡¡periodically¡¡slays¡¡the¡¡king¡¡who¡¡holds¡¡his¡¡office¡¡as¡¡the¡¡brute¡¯s¡¡priest¡¡and¡¡servant£»¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡terrors¡¡that¡¡result¡¡from¡¡such¡¡a¡¡situation¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡case¡¡of¡¡both¡¡these¡¡books£»¡¡as¡¡of¡¡many¡¡others£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡in¡¡my¡¡mind¡¡when¡¡I¡¡set¡¡myself¡¡to¡¡face¡¡them¡£¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡in¡¡such¡¡circumstances¡¡beginnings¡¡are¡¡hard¡¡¡ª¡¡c¡¯est¡¡le¡¡premier¡¡pas¡¡qui¡¡coute¡¡¡ª¡¡but¡¡after¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡will¡¡generally¡¡evolve¡¡itself¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡merely¡¡a¡¡case¡¡of¡¡what¡¡Anthony¡¡Trollope¡¡used¡¡to¡¡call¡¡¡°cobbler¡¯s¡¡wax¡£¡±¡¡Or£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡¡°will¡¡not¡¡do¡¡so£»¡±¡¡the¡¡author¡¡had¡¡better¡¡give¡¡up¡¡romance¡writing¡¡and¡¡take¡¡up¡¡some¡¡useful¡¡occupation¡¡that¡¡is¡¡more¡¡congenial¡£
Of¡¡course¡¡these¡¡are¡¡only¡¡my¡¡views£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡are¡¡based¡¡upon¡¡an¡¡experience¡¡that¡¡is¡¡now¡¡painfully¡¡extended¡£¡¡Other¡¡men¡¡may¡¡have¡¡other¡¡and¡¡better¡¡methods¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡they¡¡are¡¡concerned¡£¡¡They¡¡presuppose£»¡¡however£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡writer¡¡is¡¡to¡¡a¡¡sufficient¡¡degree¡¡possessed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Spirit¡¡of¡¡Romance£»¡¡without¡¡which¡¡he¡¡will¡¡do¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡any¡¡permanent¡¡or¡¡even¡¡of¡¡immediate¡¡value¡£¡¡The¡¡faculty¡¡of¡¡imaginative¡¡insight¡¡must¡¡be¡¡a¡¡part¡¡of¡¡his¡¡intellectual¡¡outfit¡£¡¡He¡¡must¡¡be¡¡able£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡creates£»¡¡to¡¡summon¡¡each¡¡scene¡¡whereof¡¡he¡¡treats¡¡before¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡his¡¡mind¡£¡¡He¡¡must¡¡see¡¡the¡¡characters¡¡and¡¡their¡¡surroundings£º¡¡the¡¡lion¡¡springing£»¡¡the¡¡Zulu¡¡regiments¡¡rushing¡¡with¡¡uplifted¡¡spears£»¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡eating¡¡into¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hillside£»¡¡while¡¡before¡¡it¡¡the¡¡scorched¡¡snakes¡¡glide¡¡and¡¡hiss¡£¡¡He¡¡must¡¡share¡¡the¡¡every¡¡hope¡¡and¡¡care¡¡of¡¡those¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡begets£º¡¡the¡¡rich£»¡¡low¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡Ayesha¡¡must¡¡thril