As for "charmed circles" there is uncommonly good company outside them, where, as Beatrice says, we may "be as merry as the day is long," so that the Comic Spirit cannot entirely disdain us.

And as for art--the present writer will fight for its claims as long as he has breath.

But the proof of the art of the novelist is that--at first hand or very shortly--he "enfists," absorbs, delights you.

You may discover secrets of his art afterwards with much pleasure and profit: but the actual first-hand delight is the criterion.

There ought to be no need of sitting down before the thing with tools and dynamite like burglars at a safe; of mustering crucibles and reagents like assayers at some doubtful and recalcitrant piece of ore.