Page:Marie Corelli - the writer and the woman (IA mariecorelliwrit00coat).pdf/285

 *relli telling her that it was "by far the strongest book she had yet written." He then went on to suggest that she meant her characters for certain living Royalties and celebrities. Miss Corelli wrote back to him at once, stating that he was entirely in error. He having made the suggestion that she had described Queen Alexandra as the cold and irresponsive Queen of "Temporal Power," Miss Corelli referred him to her "Christmas Greeting," published at the end of the previous year, for the description of the Queen as seen in "The Soul of Queen Alexandra." The general tone of Mr. Stead's review was to accuse Miss Corelli of "disloyalty" (though he himself, Miss Corelli complains, had long expressed views that were distinctly Pro-Boer), and to inquire sarcastically how it happened that she was invited to the Coronation? It may be stated that she was invited to the Coronation because the King knows her personally, and, knowing her, is perfectly aware that he has no more loyal subject—a conviction that is not likely to be disturbed by the casual statement even of an experienced reviewer like Mr. Stead. From certain letters and messages Miss Marie Corelli has received from both the King and Queen (if she cared to make them public), it is very evident that she is thoroughly appreciated by the Royal Family, and that they are the last people