Whatever a man
writes FOR EFFECT is wrong and bad.'
'Only in your view. There may surely exist such a thing as the
ART of fiction.'
'It is worked out. We must have a rest from it. You, now--the
best things you have done are altogether in conflict with
novelistic conventionalities. It was because that blackguard
review of "On Neutral Ground" clumsily hinted this that I first
thought of you with interest. No, no; let us copy life. When the
man and woman are to meet for a great scene of passion, let it
all be frustrated by one or other of them having a bad cold in
the head, and so on. Let the pretty girl get a disfiguring pimple
on her nose just before the ball at which she is going to shine.
Show the numberless repulsive features of common decent life.
Seriously, coldly; not a hint of facetiousness, or the thing
becomes different.'
About eight o'clock Reardon heard his wife's knock at the door.
On opening he saw not only Amy and the servant, the latter
holding Willie in her arms, but with them Jasper Milvain.
'I have been at Mrs Yule's,' Jasper explained as he came in.
Pages:
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278