第50部分(第3/7 頁)

allusion。

A　letter　I　wrote　anent　B。　was　never　posted。　I　said　I　did　not　quite　think　Geoffrey　gave　the　sense　of　power；　etc。；　and　that　his　rudeness　to　B。　was　overdone　and　cubbish；　which　you　notice　yourself。　I　think；　in　volume　shape；　that　might　yet　be　amended。

Miss　Marie　Corelli　writes　on　June　12；　1890：

If　you　are　still　in　town；　and　you　would　favour　me　with　a　call　on　Sunday　afternoon　next；　about　five　o’clock；　I　should　be　so　pleased　to　reneonths　past；　when　your　kindly　words　made　me　feel　more　happy　and　encouraged　me　in　my　uphill　clamber！　I　saw　you　from　the　gallery　at　the　Literary　Fund　Dinner；　and　wished　I　had　had　the　chance　of　speaking　to　you。　Your　book　“Beatrice”　is　beautiful　—　full　of　poetry　and　deep　thought　—　but　I　don’t　believe　the　public　—　that　with　obstinate　pertinacity　look　to　you　for　a　continuation　ad　infinitum　of　“King　Solomon’s　Mines”　and　“She”　—　will　appreciate　it　as　they　ought　and　as　it　deserves。　Whenever　I　see　a　World　and　Pall　Mall　Gazette　vulgarly　sneering　at　a　work　of　literature；　I　conclude　that　it　must　be　good　—　exceptionally　so！　—　and　this　is　generally　a　correct　estimate：　it　certainly　was　so　concerning　“Beatrice。”

Trusting　you　will　e　and　see　me　（we　are　very　quiet　people　and　don’t　give　crushes！）；

Believe　me；

Very　sincerely　yours；

Marie　Corelli。

Here　is　a　letter　from　the　late　Lady　Florence　Dixie；　whom　I　first　met　years　before　in　South　Africa；　which　is　interesting　as　showing　that　in　the　year　1890　she　held　views　that　since　then　have　bee　very　mon。　In　short；　she　was　a　proto…suffragette。

You　will；　I　hope；　excuse　this　letter；　and　not　misunderstand　me　in　what　I　say。　I　have　just　finished　reading　your　“Beatrice；”　and　have　put　it　down　with　a　feeling　that　it　is　only　another　book　in　the　many　which　proclaims　the