Page 162 (1/2)

A WORD TO THE READER

Re the very excellent advice of ood "nov-el," I a over these pages, to find that I

have, as yet, described no desperate hand-to-hand encounters, no

hairbreadth escapes (unless a bullet through one's hat arded), and, above all--not one word of LOVE!

You, sir, who have expectantly borne with me thus far,it from you,

with a deep-voiced anathema, clap on your hat, and sally forth

into the sunshine

Or you, h o'er hopes deferred, ain, to that eers this twelvemonth and more,

yet which, like Penelope's ould seem no nearer cohly beneficial

to the liver, they tellthe harp), can show off a pretty hand, or

the delicate curves of a shapely wrist and are

as that selfsame embroidery But since needlework (like books