All this notwithstanding, here was the novel at length finished.

When he had written 'The End' he lay back, closed his eyes, and let time pass in blankness for a quarter of an hour.
It remained to determine the title.

But his brain refused another effort; after a few minutes' feeble search he simply took the name of the chief female character, Margaret Home.

That must do for the book.
Already, with the penning of the last word, all its scenes, personages, dialogues had slipped away into oblivion; he knew and cared nothing more about them.
'Amy, you will have to correct the proofs for me.

Never as long as I live will I look upon a page of this accursed novel.