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her novel。
As regards “Dawn” itself； it was more or less of a failure — of course I mean at that time； for in after years it became extraordinarily successful。
One of the most appreciative and indeed enthusiastic readers of this tale at the time was old Mr。 Trubner； whose advice had encouraged me to make the attempt of its writing。 Indeed I was told by one of his relatives that he continued its perusal to within a few hours of his actual death。 Whether he finished it or not I cannot now remember。 Scoffers might say that it finished him。
The new novel upon which I embarked ultimately appeared under the title of “The Witch’s Head。” Failing to find any magazine that would undertake it serially； in the end I published it with Messrs。 Hurst and Blackett on practically the same terms as they had offered me for “Dawn。” Although； except for the African part； it is not in my opinion so good a story as “Dawn；” it was extremely well received and within certain limits very successful。 Indeed； some of the reviews were quite enthusiastic； although； as I may here remark； I was unacquainted with a single person who made a business of reviewing fiction； or indeed with anyone connected with the Press。 Never did a writer begin less equipped with friends who were likely to be able to do him a good turn。 All I could do was to cast my fictional bread upon the literary waters。
The notices of “The Witch’s Head” naturally delighted me； indeed； after the lapse of more than a quarter of a century they still make pleasant reading。 Also they caused the book to go quickly out of print and to be pirated in America。 But this success would not tempt my publishers to reissue it in a cheaper form； a venture that they thought too risky。 I hawked the work about and eventually found some other publishers — who have long since ceased to publish — who agreed to bring it and “Dawn” out each in a two…shilling edition； and nobly promised me one…third of the profits。 But in that generous agreement was a little clause that afterwards nearly proved my ruin。 It bound me to allow this firm to republish any other novel I might write during the five following years； in the same form and on the same terms。 To such a document as this in my ignorance — there was no Authors’ Society in those days — did I set my hand； with results that shall be told later。 These； however； did not alarm me at the time； if I really considered them； as； having then passed my final examination for the Bar without any assistance in the way of coaching； I determined to abandon the writing of fiction and devote myself entirely to my profession。
Three works had I produced； namely； one history and two long novels。 The history had cost me 50 pounds to publish； and for the two novels I had received exactly the same sum in all； in short； the returns were at that time nothing； and this for books that have since sold by the ten thousand copies； not to mention pirated editions。 Thus I find that； during six months of the present year； 4204 copies of “Dawn” and 5656 copies of “The Witch’s Head” were sold in a cheap edition； besides others at a higher price； which； as these works were written about twenty…eight years ago； is not a total to be despised。
To return： had it not been for a curious chance my literary efforts would have ended with the publication of “The Witch’s Head；” and probably by now my labours at the Bar in this or some other land would almost have obliterated them from my memory。 But； as it happened； I read in one of the weekly papers a notice of Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” so laudatory that I procured and studied that work； and was impelled by its perusal to try to write a book for boys。
Outside of this matter of my attempts at fiction I have little to add as to our life at Ditchingham before we migrated to London when I began to practise at the Bar。 We lived very quietly； for we were not well off； and an estate which used to produce sufficient to support a country place of the smaller sort and those who dwelt on it； began to show greatly lessened returns。 The bad years were upon us； and rents fell rapidly； moreover the repairs required were legion。 Also； from one cause； and another； little or nothing came out of the African property； which shared in the depression that followed on the giving back of the Transvaal。
Under these circumstances； outside members of my own family our visitors were few； and in the main we had to rely on ourselves and our little children for pany。 I should add that in 1884 another daughter was born to us； who is now Mrs。 Cheyne。 She was named Dorothy； after the heroine of “The Witch’s Head；” or in full； Sybil Dorothy Rider。 My recollection of this period is that it was rather lonely； at any rate for me； since my friends were African； and Africa was far away。 However； I worked very hard； as indeed I have done without intermission since I was a rather idle boy at school； both at writing and the study of the Law。 Between the intervals of work I took walks with a dear old bulldog I had； named Caesar； who appears in “Dawn；” and a tall Kaffir stick made of the black and white umzimbeet wood； which I still have； that reminded me of Africa。 At times； too； I got a day’s shooting on our own land or elsewhere。
However； I had so many resources in my own mind； and so much more to do than I could possibly pass； that all these matters troubled me not at all。 I was determined to make a success in the world in one way or another； and that of a sort which would cause my name to be remembered for long after I had departed therefrom； and my difficulty was to discover in which way this could best be done — in short； to search out the line of least resistance。 So I possessed my soul in patience and worked and worked and worked。 Often I wonder what estimate those who lived about me； and whom I met from time to time； formed of the studious young man who was understood to have been somewhere in Africa。 I imagine that it was not plimentary； for if I understood them they did not understand me。
Some pleasures I had； however。 My journeys to London to eat my dinners at Lincoln’s Inn were a change。 So were the examinations； though these I faced with f