To the Gentle Reader
In Remembrance of John Ingerfield and of Anne, his Wife
The Woman of the Sæter
Variety Patter
Silhouettes
The Lease of the “Cross Keys”
TO THE GENTLE READER;
also
TO THE GENTLE CRITIC.
Once upon a time, I wrote a little story of a woman who was crushed to
death by a python. A day or two after its publication, a friend stopped
me in the street. “Charming little story of yours,” he said, “that
about the woman and the snake; but it’s not as funny as some of your
things!” The next week, a newspaper, referring to the tale, remarked,
“We have heard the incident related before with infinitely greater
humour.”
With this—and many similar experiences—in mind, I wish distinctly to
state that “John Ingerfield,” “The Woman of the Sæter,” and
“Silhouettes,” are not intended to be amusing. The two other
items—“Variety Patter,” and “The Lease of the Cross Keys”—I give over
to the critics of the new humour to rend as they will; but “John
Ingerfield,” “The Woman of the Sæter,” and “Silhouettes,” I repeat, I
should be glad if they would judge from some other standpoint than that
of humour, new or old.
IN REMEMBRANCE OF JOHN INGERFIELD, AND OF ANNE, HIS WIFE
A STORY OF OLD LONDON, IN TWO CHAPTERS