I was completing the purchase of some small houses at Lewisham and had to
sign my name. The vendor, merely seeing the name and knowing none of my
books, said to me, rather rudely, but without meaning any mischief:
“Have you written any books like _Hudibras_?”
I said promptly: “Certainly; _Erewhon_ is quite as good a book as
_Hudibras_.”
This was coming it too strong for him, so he thought I had not heard and
repeated his question. I said again as before, and he shut up. I sent
him a copy of _Erewhon_ immediately after we had completed. It was
rather tall talk on my part, I admit, but he should not have challenged
me unprovoked.