te fascinating jungle, in which all
the wild animals conversed with intelligence and affability. You don't
suppose Eve would have stood there alone, calmly listening while the
serpent talked theology, unless conversations with animals had been an
every-day occurrence. Think how you'd flee to me, if an old cow in the
park suddenly asked you a question. But do let's keep to the point. I've
got a new plot, and I must have a new setting."

"Why not be content to do as you have done before, Ronnie; go on
writing, simply and sincerely, of the life you live and know?"

"Because, my dear girl, in common with the Athenians, people are always
wanting either to tell or to hear some new thing. I've got hold of a
jolly new thing, and I'm going to run it for all it's worth."

Helen considered this in silence.

Ronald walked over to the window, and beat a tattoo upon the _In hoc
vince_ pane.

"Do you see?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered, slowly. "I see your point, but I also see danger
ahead. I am so anxious that, in your work, you should keep the object
and motive at the highest; not putting success or popularity in their
wrong place. Let success be the result of good work well
done--conscientiously done. Let popularity follow unsought, simply from
the fact that you have been true to yourself, and to your instinctive
inspiration; that you have seen life at its best, and tried to portray
it at its highest. To go rushing off to Central Africa in order to find
a startling setting, is an angling after originality, which will by no
means ensure doing really better work. Oh, Ronnie, my advice is: be
content to stay at home, and to write truly and sincerely of the things
you know."

Ronald came back to his chair; sat down, his elbows on his knees, his
chin in his hands, and looked earnestly into the troubled eyes of his
wife.

"But, Helen," he said, "that really is not the point. Can't you see that
I am completely possessed by this new plot? Also, that Central Africa is
its only possible setting? It is merely a satisfactory side-issue, that
it varies my _mise-en-scene_."

"Must you go off there, Ronnie, in order to write it? Why not get all
the newest and best books on African travel, and read up facts----"

"Never!" cried Ronald, on his feet again, and walking up and down the
room. "I must be steeped in the wonderful African atmosphere, before I
can sub-consciously work it into my book. No account of other men's
travels could