第62部分(第2/8 頁)

　omitted；　sometimes　with　advantage。　The　really　needful　things　are　adventure　—　how　impossible　it　matters　not　at　all；　provided　it　is　made　to　appear　possible　—　and　imagination；　together　with　a　clever　use　of　coincidence　and　an　ordered　development　of　the　plot；　which　should；　if　possible；　have　a　happy　ending；　since　few　folk　like　to　be　saddened　by　what　they　read。　If　they　seek　melancholy；　it　can　be　found　in　ample　measure　in　real　life　or　in　the　daily　papers。　Still；　the　rule　of　the　happy　ending　is　one　that　may　be　broken　at　times；　at　least　I　have　dared　to　do　so　on　some　occasions；　and　notably　in　the　instance　of　“Eric　Brighteyes。”　I　remember　that　Charles　Longman　remonstrated　with　me　on　this　matter　at　the　time；　but　I　showed　him　that　the　story　demanded　it　—　that；　although　I　too　wept　over　the　evil　necessity；　it　must　be　so！

Now　adventure　in　this　narrow　world　of　ours　is　a　limited　quantity；　and　imagination；　after　all；　is　hemmed　in　by　deductions　from　experience。　When　we　try　to　travel　beyond　these　the　results　bee　so　unfamiliar　that　they　are　apt　to　lack　interest　to　the　ordinary　mind。　I　think　I　am　right　in　saying　that　no　one　has　ever　written　a　really　first…class　romance　dwelling　solely；　for　example；　upon　the　utterly　alien　life　of　another　world　or　pla　with　which　human　beings　cannot　possibly　have　any　touch。　Homer　and　others　bring　such　supernormal　life　into　the　circle　of　our　own　surroundings　and　vivify　it　by　contact；　or　by　contrast；　with　the　play　of　human　nature　as　exemplified　in　their　character