Compensation
If I die prematurely, at any rate I shall be saved from being bored by my own success.
Hudibras and Erewhon
I was completing the purchase of some small houses at Lewisham and had to sign my name. The vendor, merely seeing the name and knowing none of my books, said to me, rather rudely, but without meaning any mischief:
“Have you written any books like Hudibras?”
I said promptly: “Certainly; Erewhon is quite as good a book as Hudibras.”
This was coming it too strong for him, so he thought I had not heard and repeated his question. I said again as before, and he shut up. I sent him a copy of Erewhon immediately after we had completed. It was rather tall talk on my part, I admit, but he should not have challenged me unprovoked.