"October 9th, 1890.
"When you are on the eve of a remarkable success in the making or marring of which a few days can have no part, it is a little unreasonable that you should take so gloomy a view. I await with confidence the happier feeling which I feel certain is to succeed these darker moments, and am, as ever. . . ."
"October 20th, 1890.
"I feel very confident of a great run upon your book. Power is what the public never refuses to recognize."
"October 24th, 1890.
"You so distrust yourself, that you believe your success hangs upon arts which belonged to publishers who existed in the days of Lady Charlotte Bury, whereas you have a right to presume that the public need nothing more than to know a novel of yours is at the libraries.
"Once more, believe a little more in yourself."
"November 3d, 1890.
"I have just had a debate about 'Wormwood' with one of the leading critics of the day, who was complaining of the gloom which overspread the book.
"'Well,' said I, 'you cannot deny that none but a person who had genius could have written that work.'
"'Genius is a big word, but yet I think you are right in this case,' replied the critic.
"I know I am."
