ΤΟ

Mrs. Maude Crosse

DEAR MAUDE,-All the little two-oared boats which put out into the great ocean have need of some chart which will show them how to lay their course. Each starts full of happiness and confidence, and yet we know how many founder, for it is no easy voyage, and there are rocks and sandbanks upon the way. So I give a few pages of your own private log, which tell of days of peace, and days of stormsuch storms as seem very petty from the deck of a high ship, but are serious for the two-oared boats. If your peace should help another to peace, or your storm console another who is storm-tossed, then I know that you will feel repaid for this intrusion upon your privacy. May all your voyage be like the outset, and when at last the oars fall from your hands, and those of Frank, may other loving ones be ready to take their turn of toil-and so, bon voyage! Ever your friend,

January 20, 1899.

THE AUTHOR.

Lebriv
Thes
10135
31000
13 V

PREFACE TO THE AUTHOR'S

EDITION

THERE are two of my books which are writ-
ten not as stories, but as studies and pictures
of contemporary life. These are The Stark
Munro Letters and A Duet. In the latter
book my aim has been, in an age of pessimism,
to draw marriage as it may be, and as it often
is, beautiful and yet simple, the commonplaces
of life being all tinged, and softened, and glori-
fied by the light of love. No startling advent-
ures are here, for they do not come to such
people as I have portrayed, nor would I have
them sparkling and talking in aphorisms, for
this also is unusual in suburban villas. It is
atmosphere—the subtle, indefinable, golden-
tinted atmosphere of love-which I have
wished to reproduce, and also the humour
which the great jester, Life, brings with it. It
is on these points that I have succeeded or
failed, for I have attempted no other.

There is one criticism which has been di-
rected against the book so often that I welcome

an opportunity of saying a word upon it. The
Violet Wright episode has been pronounced to
be needless and offensive. In view of the re-
spect which I have for some who entertain this
view, I have gone over that part of the book
and softened down some crudities, but, in the
main, the chapters must remain as they stand.
To excise them would be to weaken the reality
and humanity of the book. I did not set out
to write a fairy-tale, but to draw a living couple
with all the weaknesses, temptations, and sor-
rows which might come to test their characters
and to overshadow their lives. Frank is no
ideal hero, but an every-day youth no better
than his fellows. I cannot think that an epi-
sode which tends to show how the influence of
a good woman may help a man to keep straight,
or how in a direct duel the force of sincerity
and virtue may overcome strength and brill-
iancy, can tend to anything but good.

UNDERSHAW, HINDHEAD,

1901.

A. CONAN DOYLE.