And now； with many apologies； I will turn to mundane things again。 Before I do so； however； as I dare say I shall allude to the subject no more； I will add a word on the general matter of the writing of romances。 This； I gather； from remarks that have been made to me and many letters that I have received； is supposed to be a very easy art； if indeed it is worthy to be classified under that high name。 As a matter of fact it is difficult。 In a novel； as the word is generally understood； the author may discourse upon a thousand topics； nothing； or at any rate very little； is barred to him。 He may burrow in the obscene depths of human nature； he may discuss politics； religion； metaphysics； socialism； “love” in all its forms； the elemental or artificial divisions between the sexes — oh！ what is there that he may not and does not discuss？ Nothing that appears in the columns of the daily papers； nothing that is within the range of the human intellect； lies beyond his legitimate； or illegitimate； scope。
In romance all this is different； the lines between which he must move are by parison extremely narrow： as I remember； Besant put it admirably when answering some onslaught on myself in connection with “Montezuma’s Daughter”： “There is but one bag of tricks in romance。”
The love interest； at least among the English…speaking peoples； must be limited and restrained in tone； must follow the accepted lines of thought and what is defined as morality。 Indeed it may even be