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ing of them as the work of the devil or of ancient magicians in an unknown age。 The thing is absurd。 Those edifices are the relics of a lost civilisation which worshipped the Nature gods。 Who they were； what they were； we do not and perhaps never shall know。 Andrew Lang has stated the whole problem much better than I can ever hope to do； in a poem he once wrote at my request for a paper in which I was interested。 I do not think that those verses have ever been republished； so I ：13
13 Republished in The Poetical Words of Andrew Lang； vol。 iii； p。 42 （1923）； under the title of “Zimbabwe。” — Ed。
Into the darkness whence they came；
They passed — their country knoweth none；
They and their gods without a name
Partake the same oblivion。
Their work they did； their work is done；
Whose gold； it may be； shone like fire；
About the brows of Solomon；
And in the House of God’s Desire。
The pestilence； the desert spear；
Smote them： they passed with none to tell
The names of them that laboured here：
Stark walls and crumbling crucible；
Straight gates； and graves； and ruined well；
Abide； dumb monuments of old。
We know； but that men fought and fell；
Like us — like us — for love of gold。
A girls’ school； or some members of it； evidently weary of the society of their own sex； wrote congratulating me with great earnestness because I had in “King Solomon’s Mines” produced a thrilling book “without a heroine。”
Truly in those days my industry was great。 While on my summer holiday in 1885 I ain；” the sequel to “King Solomon’s Mines；” from the first word to the last； although it did not appear until about a couple of years later； after it had run through Longman’s Magazine。 On what exact dates I began and finished the story I do not know； though possibly these are entered on the manuscript； of which I made a present to my friend Charles Longman。14
14 These dates are not entered on the MS。 — Ed。
On my return to town in the late autumn I began a novel of a very different style； which was afterwards published under the name of “Jess。” The manuscript of “Jess” does not state the date of its mencement； but at the end appears the date of December 31； 1885； showing that it was finished on that day。 This book I wrote for the most part in the chambers； at 1 Elm Court； that I shared with Mr。 Kerr； the son of missioner Kerr； upon an old teak table with a leather top。 This table； which I bought of a second…hand dealer； had evidently begun life in some ship where the cabins were low； for it was so short in the legs that； until they were heightened in some way； it used to make my back ache to write at it； also it has all the solidity mon to ship’s furniture。 Now it is used for trimming lamps in the basement of Ditchingham House。
Whenever I was not engaged in Court； where I hung about a great deal； and even for a while reported Divorce and Probate cases for The Times on behalf of that journal’s regular reporter； an old barrister name Kelly； when he was absent on a holiday； I sat at this table in the dingy room at 1 Elm Court and toiled at “Jess。” Sometimes this was no easy task； since young barristers of my acquaintance； with time upon their hands； would enter and scoff at my literary labours。 In the evening I placed what I had written in a kind of American cloth music…roll； which either my wife or Miss Barber made for me； and carried it home to West Kensington； so that I might continue my work after dinner。 In fact； there were two of these rolls。 The first of them I lost on my homeward way； I know not how or where。 It contained about a dozen foolscap sheets of closely written manuscript of one of the most important parts of the book； that which； amongst other things； describes the character of Frank Muller and how； after he had attempted the murder of Neal and Jess in the Vaal River； he galloped away pursued by his own terrors。 I remember that I was much distressed at this loss； thinking that what I had written was the best thing I had ever done。 I waited awhile； hoping that the address written within the case might bring it back to me。 But it never did。 So I rewrote the missing sheets from memory； which has never been my strong point。 I wonder whether they are better or worse than those that departed！
So soon as “Jess；” of which I will speak more hereafter； was finished； or rather about a month later； I began another tale which the world knows as “She。” The exact date of its mencement is uncertain； for it has been obliterated by a clip that fastened the manuscript together； and all that remains is “Feb。86。” At the end； however； is inscribed “Finished 18 March 1886。” Therefore； even supposing that it was begun upon the 1st February； which would mean that I had allowed myself a month’s rest after finishing “Jess；” the whole romance was pleted in a little over six weeks。 Moreover； it was never rewritten； and the manuscript carries but few corrections。 The fact is that it was written at white heat； almost without rest； and that is the best way to pose。
I remember that when I sat down to the task my ideas as to its development were of the vaguest。 The only clear notion that I had in my head was that of an immortal woman inspired by an immortal love。 All the rest shaped itself round this figure。 And it came — it came faster than my poor aching hand could set it down。
Well do I recall taking the pleted manuscript to the office of my literary agent； Mr。 A。 P。 Watt； and throwing it on the table with the remark： “There is what I shall be remembered by。” Well do I recall also visiting Mr。 Watt at his office； which then was at 2 Paternoster Square； and finding him out。 As the business was urgent； and I did not wish to have to return； I sat down at his table； asked for some foolscap； and in the hour or two that I had to wait wrote the scene of the destruction of She in the Fire of Life。 This； however； was of course a little while — it may have been a few days — before I delivered the manuscript。
It would seem； therefore； that between January 1885 and March 18； 1886； with my own hand； and unassisted by any secretary； I wrote “King Solomon’s Mines；” “Allan Quatermain；” “Jess；” and “She。” Also I followed m