Page:Tex; a chapter in the life of Alexander Teixeira de Mattos (IA texchapterinlife00mcke).pdf/180

 XIV

Teixeira continued to live at Ventnor until the beginning of May, with spirits, health and powers of work all steadily improving. He returned to London in time to welcome Couperus, who arrived in the middle of the month and was entertained privately and publicly for five or six weeks.

I don't know exactly when you'll be back, he writes, 11. 3. 21, but I welcome you home with all my heart and with an S. O. S.

The title of [Couperus'] The Inevitable'' has been forestalled, in a novel publishing with Holden & Harlingham. And I want another good title in a hurry. Can you help me? There is always:''

Cornélie.

Wilkie Collins would have called it:

Could She Do Otherwise?

George Egerton would have said: