It has always been a matter of wonder to the writer that the affection
of the public for a favourite author should stop short of observing his
wishes. Michael Fairless most straitly charged those who would represent
her to abstain from the publication of her identity. But demand creates
supply, and the interest in her has become so extended that if
authorised information about her is not forthcoming, something of an
unauthorised and incorrect nature will probably be produced. Only one
thing would have made Michael Fairless more vexed than the publication
of the truth about her, and that thing would have been the publication
of untruth. So many garbled statements, inaccurate assertions and pure
fictions have appeared about her that it is time for uncertainty to be
dispelled. Death has left absolutely authentic knowledge in the hands of
two people only—the writers of this volume. Her eldest sister has
chronicled such of the very simple happenings of Michael Fairless’s life
as have left some record of her character, and save for brief mention,
is confidently leaving the treatment of her work and its effect in the
competent and devoted hands of Mrs Dowson, her dear friend and literary
executor.