They cannot bear to put all the witty and clever speeches into the mouths of these 'fetches' of their own imagination.
Some must be saved up to edge in as a sly aside, a sage reflection of the author's own.

There never should be any author's asides." "I don't know about that," John answered, "but I often feel offended with authors who lack imagination to see that a group of their own creations would not look in one another's eyes just what they look in his own.

The author's pretty woman is too often pretty to all; his wit is acknowledged as a wit by all.

The difference of opinion comes from the readers.

They differ certainly." "Even I," observed Valentine, "if I were an author's wit, might be voted a bore, and how sad that would be, for in real life it is only right to testify that I find little or no difference of opinion." He spoke in a melancholy tone, and heaved up a sigh.
"Is cousin Val a wit ?" asked little Hugh.
"I am afraid I am," said Valentine; "they're always saying so, and it's very unkind of them to talk about it, because I couldn't help it, could I ?" Here the little Anastasia, touched with pity by the heartfelt pathos of his tone, put her dimpled hand in his and said tenderly, "Never mind, dear, it'll be better soon, p'raps, and you didn't do it on purpose." "Does it hurt ?" asked Hugh, also full of ruth.
"Be ashamed of yourself," whispered Miss Christie, "to work on the dear children's feelings so.